People often ask me about what sparked my interest to travel and experience different places and cultures around the world. The answer is simple: when I was eight, my parents gave me a geographic encyclopedia. This simple act had a profound impact. Little did I know but geography would go on to play an important role in my life, shaping the person I am today and the choices I’ve made over the years.

Why geography matters

At eight, I possessed a boundless curiosity in everyone and everything around me. A whole new world opened up when my parents gave me the geographic encyclopedia. The maps, illustrations and pictures captured my imagination and I realised that the world I lived in extended a lot farther than the boundaries of my neighbourhood. The fact that there were so many people beyond those boundaries who lived in different conditions and spoke different languages intrigued me endlessly. In addition, my fascination with the various climate zones and huge diversity of flora and fauna around the world ensured I was occupied for hours on end, pouring over the colourful pictures and illustrations. The importance of geography in stimulating interest in our world is undeniable.

My ‘Jump Shot’ at the Iguassu Falls! I’d seen them so many times in my geographic encyclopedia that when I finally got to visit the falls, it felt like the images had come to life!

…my early interest in geography … opened my eyes to the world and nurtured a great spirit of adventure.

Geography is more than being able to point out a country on a world map!

Some years later, I had a circle of pen-pals (remember those?!) across the globe and through them, I learned more about their every day lives and cultures – my pocket money was spent buying postage stamps for those hundreds of letters.

My experience has taught me that it was my early interest in geography, encouraged by my parents, that opened my eyes to the world and nurtured a great spirit of adventure. The way I see it, geography is a lot more than being able to point out a country on a world map or knowing the capital city of every country in the world (though if you did, I would be VERY impressed!). It’s about getting to know our world and its people better and understanding what makes societies tick. Geography helps to trigger our curiosity and as we become more curious, our awareness grows. It opens our eyes to different cultures and perspectives, and helps us grow as well-rounded, emphatic individuals.

After all those years of pouring over geographic encyclopedias, it’s a real joy to watch it all from a plane window!

And all this can be attributed to one simple act: giving a kid a geographic encyclopedia.

How to encourage an interest in geography

Travel bloggers testing their knowledge of geography

My parents sparked my interest in geography when I was eight by giving me a geographic encyclopedia as a birthday gift. There are many more ways in which parents can encourage their children to take an interest in geography. Here are some ideas from me and fellow bloggers:

Aye, a fellow blogger, bought a shower curtain with a world map on it and teaches her daughter about the world during every bath.

Andy Jarosz brings an inflatable globe with him on his travels to teach kids he meets about where he comes from. You could of course use your phone but the inflatable ball is also perfect for the beach or pool!

There are many geography games that can be downloaded from the app store. The one that currently keeps me busy is World Geography.

Or choose a fun board game for the whole family. I particularly like this one called Continent Race which was created by a kid called Byron who loves geography as much as I do.

Social media platforms like Twitter can play an important role in bringing the world into our classrooms. As an example: get out a big world map and a box of pins. Send a tweet asking your followers and their followers to introduce themselves (for the purpose of a little geography lesson). Request some information about where they live and maybe a photo of the most famous landmark in their hometowns. As the tweets pour in, get your child(ren) to pin the locations on the map and show them the photos of these places.

Purchase a geographic encyclopedia or a family reference atlas that’s full of colourful illustrations and facts. Encourage your children to look up travel stories and photos from magazines or travel blogs to complement the information in the encyclopedia. Zoom into these places on Google Earth.

What can we do to nurture an interest in geography? Please share your ideas in the comments section.

]]>https://velvetescape.com/why-geography-important/feed/2A little accidenthttps://velvetescape.com/little-accident/
https://velvetescape.com/little-accident/#commentsTue, 09 May 2017 19:56:50 +0000https://velvetescape.com/?p=18425You might have noticed (someone? anyone?…Haha!) that I haven’t posted anything in the past month. The reason I’ve been keeping low is because of a bicycle accident I got into on April 1st (yep, that was a lousy joke!). Here’s the story:

The ‘little accident’

At ER in the hospital – pulling a ‘sad’ face.

I was on my way back from a friend’s birthday party when I got into my first bike accident in Amsterdam. A police van swerved into my path and the cyclist in front of me braked. My front wheel caught his bike and I quite literally flew off my bike. I landed on the road on my left arm/shoulder. Two girls who were standing on the pavement rushed to me and as it turned out, they were med students! They were brilliant in helping me off the road, speaking so calmly to me and calling an ambulance. I was pretty much in shock at this point and the pain was excruciating.
The ambulance arrived and getting me into the vehicle was a nightmare. I almost passed out from the pain but the fun soon began! I was given a ketamine sedative which calmed me down but I soon started hallucinating! Images that reminded me of The Matrix and Alice in Wonderland flooded my brain! Imagine you’re zooming through a spinning kaleidscope and you’ll get an idea. That sure was an… erm… ‘otherworldly’ trip!

I arrived at the hospital (still wildly hallucinating) and tests revealed that my left shoulder was dislocated. Nothing broken. Phew!! The nurse expertly massaged my arm back into place and I slept as the ketamine wore off. When I awoke, I was amazed by how crystal clear everything looked – it was like watching life pass in HD! – and I felt incredibly chirpy! Haha!

At the time, I had the impression that a dislocated shoulder was pretty benign. Considering the nasty fall, the damage could’ve been much worse. Besides, images of tough guys in the movies simply banging their dislocated shoulders back into place against a wall were somehow reassuring. I had no idea what was in store for me…

Five odd weeks later, I still can’t lift my left arm to my shoulder level and I haven’t had a single night of good sleep due to the pain. What I initially thought was a benign accident has had a pretty massive impact on my day-to-day activities where even doing something as simple as putting on my clothes is a challenge. I’ve drastically reduced my working hours to rest my shoulder. Physiotherapy and painkillers are helping but the healing process is proving to be long and slow – as the doctor says, it takes quite a bit longer for people over forty. Gee, thanks!

Anyway, I thought I’d let you know in case you were starting to miss me.

Despite the accident, I’ve still been travelling, to Spain and South Africa in the past month and more trips are just around the corner. I’ll publish my posts about these trips when my shoulder feels better, and in the meantime, you’ll find me on my social media channels: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

A word of thanks

A big thank you goes to the two girls who helped me, the medics who were terrific, and my family who’s been amazing! THANK YOU!!! And I’m also thankful for that new trippy experience! What a ride! Haha!

While scrolling through my Facebook feed the other day, I noticed a post by my good friend Yvonne: “The Day of Good News“; and I thought, “What an awesome idea!”. Many of us had a challenging 2016, compounded by a stream of terrorist attacks around the world, the deaths of some of our most cherished artists, the refugee crisis and the list goes on… With all of this news swirling around, it’s tough to escape the general sense of gloom. Yvonne’s post hit a switch in my mind and instead of reading the same old news feeds, I started actively searching for good news. Lo and behold…. there was lots of it! A simple search on social media led me to:

As I read these stories, I laughed, felt hopeful and inspired, and even shed a tear of joy.

I thought, “It’s just a simple flip of the switch isn’t it?”

Indeed, a simple switch from gloom and doom to joy and inspiration.

So the good news is…. Beauty, joy, love and inspiration is all around us!

All one has to do is reach out to it, embrace it and share it. A simple recipe to help us snap out of that gloomy cycle. And that’s what I intend to do more of going forward. I’ll start by sharing more good news. I’ll also tell my loved ones how much they mean to me and cherish the time I spend with them. Stop for a few moments wherever I am to appreciate the beauty around me. Show empathy and gratitude. Help those in need. And continue to smile.

This little story in the news caught my eye recently: a tourist was arrested in Myanmar for pulling the plug of an amplifier that was broadcasting a monk’s sermon because it was disturbing his sleep. It’s something that we’re sadly seeing more of each year: tourists being disrespectful to people, local customs, traditions and rules, and not to mention defacing historic monuments and damaging nature. I often think of ways of how to be a responsible tourist during my travels around the world, especially because I’ve had my fair share of experiences and heard many horrific stories involving badly-behaved tourists, like the tourist who tried to smuggle a penguin from Boulders Beach near Cape Town in his coat as a pet to take home. Or the guy who threw pens and soap out the bus window in Cuba and laughed as people scrambled to the ground to grab them. Or the tourists who yelled at the local vendor on the beach in Phuket for not having cold beer, a few days after the tsunami which wiped out the vendor’s home and half her family. Or the tourist who scribbled “xyz was here!” onto one of the Easter Island statues! And I can go on and on…

How to be a responsible tourist: awareness, respect and empathy

Bathing ritual at the Sacred Water temple in Bali. Ask locals for their permission before snapping away.

I have to be honest though. I haven’t always been a responsible tourist myself – I’ll never forget that moment when I was chased out of a market by two Mayans in Chiapas, Mexico, for taking photos of them. That’s one lesson (also highlighted below) I learned very quickly! That said, I do my utmost to be conscious of my surroundings and of local customs. If I’m not sure, I see what the locals do first, or I’ll ask them. To me its important to be aware and respectful, and to show empathy. I may not agree with some customs or traditions and I may occasionally voice my disagreement but always in a respectful manner. In addition, I always stick to the paths or trails along historic monuments or national parks, and I always resist the urge to touch a monument, like statues, or bring a free souvenir home with me in the form of a seashell or pebble. Simply abiding by these principles has allowed me to enjoy travel so much more and pick up many valuable lessons and insights along the way, which, to me, is what travel is all about.

Tips from my blogger friends:

I asked my travel blogger friends for their tips on how to be a responsible tourist and this is what they had to say:

“The key to being a responsible tourist comes down to empathy and the simple saying “do onto others as you’d have them do onto you”. Regardless of what part of the world you’re in, remember we’re all connected and wanting the same things in life which is health, happiness and respect. If you follow these simple guidelines you’re sure to have a meaningful experience and will most likely connect on a deeper level with the destination you’re visiting and the people who call it home.” – Rob Lloyd from Stop Having a Boring Life.

“If someone is not aware of local or general etiquette in travel, it’s always a good idea to do some research before going on a trip. Google it or any local will help! But mostly, everyone should be okay with simply being a nice person, respecting foreign cultures and people on their way.” – Angelika Schwaff from Reisefreunde.

This is echoed by Erik van Erp from the Around the Globe blog: “A lot of people don’t seem to know or care about the culture and country they visit. You need to adapt to the standard of the country and people you visit, instead of walking around in a mini-bikini, or shirtless in countries where this is frowned upon.”

A smile can often make such a big difference.

“Get off the beaten path. Get out of the tourist zone. Visit and possibly stay in neighbourhoods where you can find mainly locals. You will have a much more authentic experience. Plus, it will be far cheaper. Walk everywhere. Use public transport or hire a bike for the day. Treat people the way you like to be treated – you’d be surprised how some tourists can be total jerks and lose their manners when they travel abroad. Respect local customs. Be patient. Plus remember to smile. A smile can often make such a big difference.” – Kash Bhattacharya from Budget Traveller.

“Terrace of a café at night (Place du Forum)” by Van Gogh. In front of a masterpiece, use only your eyes.

“My top tips would be: a) When you’re visiting a landmark or in front of a masterpiece, use only your eyes and keep your hands in your pockets. b) When you’re in nature, always bring a bag with you to collect your garbage. c) Respect the local customs. If you can’t cope with them, change your destination or stay home.” – Simon Falvo from Wild About Travel. Simon also wrote: “What Makes People Behave Like Dumb-Ass Tourists”

“Remember that you are a guest at someone else’s home – be that a country or a hotel or anything – what would you do if you went to visit your best friend’s parents house? In this scenario, people would be at their best behaviour and it saddens me when it is not the case. Be nice, be patient, don’t disturb others. Be open minded – things may not happen at the pace that you are used to at home – and that is OK, because that is why you travelled to place X in the first place.” – Ana Silva O’Reilly from Mrs O Around the World.

“Ask for permission before clicking photos of locals. I experienced that first hand in a small village in the Indian Himalayas, while talking to an old mountain lady. A man walked right up to us, and without even a smile on his face, blinded us with a flash and walked away. The lady lamented how that is nothing new, that most people visit to photograph them but leave without knowing anything about their lives. Some of these nameless pictures will be exhibited and sold.

That is the day I decided that as much as the native people of a place make for good subjects for travel photography, before I click any faces with my camera, I will have both their permission and their story. Imagine how you would feel if someone shoved a camera in your face without so much as exchanging a word with you.” – Shivya Nath from The Shooting Star. Shivya also wrote: “5 Ways I’ve Changed to Travel More Responsibly“.

Ladies working in their vegetable garden in Mauritius – they happily obliged us when we asked to take a photo.

“Travel is only going to grow…currently at 1.2 billion travelers/year and expected to go until 2 billion in 2030. That’s a lot of opportunity for both sides of the spectrum, all the “good” that we know travel can be (i.e., benefiting local communities, connecting people, reducing fear of “the other”, etc.). Sadly, this also means potentially higher numbers of disrespectful folks and the environmental, cultural and economic destruction that they leave in their wake. But, I do feel that the more people are aware of their actions and understand the impact they can have — positive and negative — the more they will make decisions aligned with the “positive”.” – Audrey Scott from Uncornered Market. Audrey also wrote: “Redefining Tourism: 20 Tips for the Mindful Traveler.”

One more tip from me: if you’re sensitive to noise when you sleep, ear-plugs can help, or even better, noise-cancelling headphones!

Allan and Eugene. They’re the best and closest friends I have. We met when we were six-years-old; we lived in the same neighbourhood in Kuala Lumpur and attended the same school. Our friendship grew as we had lots in common and we shared countless precious moments together: joy and laughter, family tribulations and our own growing pains. We didn’t know it then but these moments were the foundation of a solid friendship that would last 30-odd years (and counting). Our ties hardly waned even when Eugene and his family moved to Canada when he was 16 and I later moved to Amsterdam. Separated by thousands of miles, we kept in touch through the years via letters and phone calls, and more recently via social media. We also always made it a point to meet at least once every one or two years, either in Vancouver, Amsterdam or Kuala Lumpur. We often coordinate our travels to be in a certain place at the same time, and we would take off on a trip together, just the three of us, without our partners, to catch up and enjoy each other’s company. These bestie getaways are always a highlight of my year, and through the years, we’ve seen many places together and shared many laughs and tears.

When I was approached by The Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts to contribute a post about travelling to celebrate special moments, the first thing that came to mind was the string of unforgettable bestie getaways I have enjoyed over the years. The Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts welcome thousands of guests every day at their properties around the world, and help their guests celebrate these special moments. I can certainly concur as The Ritz-Carlton, with its exceptional standards in accommodations, facilities, food and service, is one of my favourite hotel brands. In fact, one of my most unforgettable bestie getaways was spent at a Ritz-Carlton Hotel! Looking back at the dozens of trips Allan, Eugene and I have been on together, I’ve realised that some of them took place at a turning point in our lives. The moments we spent together expressing our joy and frustrations, celebrating an event like a birthday or New Year’s Eve, sharing our achievements, or ironing out differences from the past, are the ones I cherish most. These moments, and the laughter shared, are the ropes that bind us and which have helped us grow as individuals, together.

Six Unforgettable Bestie Getaways

Krabi

This trip to Krabi, Thailand, has a special place in my heart. I’d just left the banking world after ten years and I was at the start of my round-the-world trip. Allan was very much settled, with a flourishing business in Kuala Lumpur, while I found myself facing an uncertain future and a personality I didn’t much like (molded by years in the rat race). We spent several days in Krabi enjoying the beach and going on trips to the nearby islands. Our lengthy, often emotional chats about my passions, what I didn’t like about myself and what motivates me helped open my eyes and mind to a multitude of possibilities.

One of the things we did was this boat trip from Krabi to Phi Phi island.

Allan and me with our paper lantern.

One evening, after dinner, we went for a walk along the beach boulevard and had some ice cream. Earlier that evening, Allan had bought several paper lanterns from a street vendor. He explained that these lanterns were used during a certain festival in Thailand. People would write their wishes and prayers on the lanterns, light a small burner inside and release them as the lanterns filled up with hot air. Intrigued by this idea, we bought one and each scribbled our wishes on the lantern. I made several wishes: a safe trip, a bright future, everlasting friendships and a ‘new’ me.

We then walked out to the beach and lit our lantern. We let it go and the lantern drifted upwards. Silenced by this magical moment, we huddled together and watched as our paper lantern gently floated away, carrying with it our wishes to the heavens above. We stood there on the beach, transfixed for several minutes, watching until our lantern was so far up that it resembled one of the many stars in the sky. I will never forget this enchanting sight – I don’t think either of us will.

Bali

Allan, Eugene and I absolutely love Bali and we make it a point to choose the ‘Island of Gods’ for our bestie getaway every few years. Eugene and I both have family in Malaysia so we always coordinate our trips to Kuala Lumpur in order to spend time together with Allan, who lives there. From Kuala Lumpur, it’s a short flight to many city or beach destinations in Southeast Asia, and Bali is one of our favourites!

We spent lots of time drinking cold beers at the beach and watching the sunsets!

We would spend some time at the pool or beach, then hire a car or a scooter to explore the island. The latter mode of transport didn’t go down too well with Eugene though on our last trip there; he crashed the scooter into a wall less than a hundred yards from the pick-up point! Allan and I couldn’t stop laughing and poor Eugene had to endure our cruel jokes for the rest of the trip!

Clowning around during a jungle walk in Bali. This was after Eugene’s scooter incident. Haha!

Budapest

Allan was in Budapest, Hungary, and he asked me to join him there. I knew from the tone of his voice that something wasn’t quite right so I took some time off from work and spent a weekend with him in this stunning city. I soon found out what was bothering him as we walked along the banks of the Danube. He was going through a rough patch with his partner and needed to talk to someone. I listened intently as he poured his heart out, offering some words of advice in between. This was all he needed.

Budapest

The rest of the weekend was spent exploring Budapest and I could tell that he felt so much better. It made me realise that sometimes, all one needs is an ear and a shoulder to cry on, and he knew he could count on me. Moreover, being in a city filled with such beauty and adventure certainly helped!

We had a lovely lunch at Cafe New York in Budapest, arguably one of the grandest cafes I’ve ever been to!

Kuala Lumpur

My initials (KJ) were embroidered onto the pillow cases!

This is one of the most fun, unforgettable getaways we’ve had. Eugene and I had planned to be in Kuala Lumpur at the same time. I booked a suite at the The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur and invited both Eugene and Allan to join me for a day at the hotel. We had a terrific lunch before heading for the spa for a massage. That evening, we stayed in my suite, chatting, laughing and watching movies as the butler brought food and wines for our en-suite picnic! Allan and Eugene were visibly impressed with the turndown service, which included pillow covers with my initials embroidered on them and macarons.

Hong Kong

I was in Kuala Lumpur to celebrate Christmas with my family when Allan invited me to accompany him to Hong Kong to usher in the New Year. Inspired by our little party at the The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur, Allan booked a Harbour-view room at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong with phenomenal views of Victoria Harbour and the awe-inspiring skyline of Hong Kong!

The view from the Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.

We spent two days catching up with one another as we feasted our way through Hong Kong! At midnight on New Year’s Eve, we sipped champagne and toasted our friendship before watching the fireworks display above the harbour in amazement!

Barcelona

Having lots of fun in Sitges.

Eugene often makes it a point to celebrate my birthday with me in Amsterdam whenever he can (do you see why he’s my best friend?). On one occasion, he decided to tour around Europe with a good friend before coming to Amsterdam and he asked me to meet up with them in Barcelona. I absolutely love Catalonia so it didn’t take much for him to persuade me! What followed was a long weekend filled with wine, tapas and non-stop laughs on the beach! At the time, he was going through a career transition, something I’d experienced myself several years before. I knew exactly what he was going through and we spent a lot of time talking about his insecurities and the possibilities out there. The wines and fabulous food provided much-needed inspiration and looking back now, I’m convinced that he learned a lot from that trip.

Allan, Eugene and I have managed to stay close over the years in spite of the thousands of miles between us. Many things keep us together and our celebratory travel tradition is certainly one of them. These bestie getaways and the countless moments shared on them truly represent the glue that binds us. Hmm, I think it’s time to plan another bestie getaway!

The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it.

– Hubert H. Humphrey

I truly have. I feel really blessed when I think of the many friends I have, like my childhood friends, Allan and Eugene, whom I grew up with. Though we live in three different corners of the world, our friendship has never been stronger and more meaningful. Or Renate, a lady who sat next to me on a flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur when I was 14-years-old. Till this day, we keep in touch via ‘snail mail’ and not a birthday or Christmas goes by without a cheery card from Renate. In this age of social media, I’ve made more friends, many of whom I’ve since met in person. United by our passion for travel, we’ve traversed the world together and shared the best times.

As a celebration of friendships, I’ve taken some of my favourite photos from my facebook page of my travels around the world with my friends and compiled a photo essay of my friends around the world. Cheers to friendships!!

Me with my friends Melvin, Nienke and Becki in a wintry Montréal.

Posing like real snowboard pro’s. NOT! With Nienke and Becki.

Sunset cruise in Cape Town.

Having tons of fun at the Social Travel Summit in Hamburg. With Adeline, Dan, Rachelle, Claudia and Audrey.

Michael, Rachelle and Becki rocking the stage at the Social Travel Summit Hamburg.

A super selfie at MATKA in Helsinki, a practice we’ve introduced to conferences around the world when we get onto the stage. Hehe! The ‘mouth’ is my buddy Kash!

With my travel friends on the Galapagos Islands. What an awesome trip!

With Umei at a cooking course in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Me and my besties on my birthday cruise in Amsterdam.

Angelika and Melvin visiting me having fun in Weesp, a small town near Amsterdam.

Hanging out with Angelika, Melvin and Nick in Bologna.

On a hike through the spectacular interior of Reunion Island.

Jumping with joy at the beach in Mauritius!

Me and Melvin doing a TV interview in Cape Town.

Picnic in a vineyard in Costa Brava.

A thrilling ride at the Iguazu Falls in Brazil. With Alex and Reine.

Goofing around at the Iguazu Falls in Argentina with Melvin and Alex.

At INDABA in Durban, South Africa.

Up in the Canadian Rockies near Jasper.

Me and Jaume in Girona.

Visiting Renate in her hometown Canberra, Australia.

Me and Melvin at the viewing deck of the Christ Statue, Corcovado.

Me and Zöe sitting on the Velvet Escape bench in the Lake District, England.

I met Janice and George Mucalov, two travel writers, on an Alaska cruise in 2011 and we’ve stayed in touch ever since, following each other’s travels via social media. Janice, George and I enjoy travelling in the same manner, i.e. comfortably, or rather… the ‘velvet’ way, so when Janice approached me with an idea for a guest post about a luxury Myanmar river cruise with an element of supporting local communities, I said “yes” in an instant! Read about this wonderful Velvet Escape in Myanmar:

Luxury Myanmar river cruise – and the art of ‘giving back’

After draining our cappuccinos, we step down the gangplank to our waiting trishaws. We’re cruising up Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River, from Yangon to Bagan, on the new “Belmond Orcaella” – this morning we’ll visit a monastery and cheroot-making shop in the village of Danuphyu. And again, we notice him.

Exploring Bagan.

Dapper in dark pants and a crisp white shirt, he carries a black leather bag. He’s always the first person off, clouds of red dust swirling about his ankles as he strides ahead along a dirt path under the fierce rising sun.

It turns out this mystery man is the ship’s doctor, Dr. Oo Ko. And while he’s onboard to help should any of the 64 guests need his services, he also visits the villages along the river route to see local patients – for free.

Already this season, he’s seen 86 people on four visits to Moke Taw and 78 patients on three visits to tiny Kyi Taung Oo village (where he also gave away 43 pairs of free reading glasses). He’s encountered and treated cases of relapsed TB, malnutrition and worm infestations in children, lead poisoning among villagers from Nye Nyein who glaze pottery, iodine deficiencies and viral infections. Often, what’s needed are basic health care measures that we take for granted back home.

Health checks at local schools.

One afternoon, the soft-spoken unassuming doctor gave an onboard talk about the variety of initiatives Belmond sponsors to support the local people through health, educational and even engineering projects. We’re astonished how very small amounts can go a long way in Myanmar! Just think – it costs only $4 to $8 U.S. for a one-week course of antibiotics to treat a patient with a chest infection. For $2, a student can get the stationery, pencils, ruler and exercise books they need for a year of school; a whole school building can be built for only $6,500 to $8,000. He doesn’t make us feel guilty though. If anything, we wish we’d known in advance and brought along some reading glasses to donate.

Children singing at a school in Myanmar.

First Belmond Myanmar cruise

Belmond has deep roots in Myanmar – this year it celebrates 20 years of cruising on the Irrawaddy River. It first launched the “Belmond Road to Mandalay” in 1995. That’s since been totally refurbished, and its gleaming wood and jade tile interiors are said to be even lovelier now.

Belmond Orcaella in Myanmar.

But back to 1995. That same year Belmond – the luxury riverboat, hotel and train company known then as “Orient-Express” – also started helping the Myanmar community. We’re not surprised, having met Mrs. Sherwood, one of Belmond’s founders. She’s sailing with her husband as a non-VIP guest and exudes kindness.

Beautiful Bagan in Myanmar.

Belmond’s first project was a school in Shwe Kyet Yet village; some of the school’s former students have ended up working for Belmond. (Perhaps the smiling steward who places a fresh carnation in our cabin each day was taught there?) With the help of donations from guests and staff, the company has since built another 21 schools along the river, serving 3,000 students (and it also pays the salaries for some teachers). And it undertakes other projects too – like donating solar panels for a village that never had electricity after dark, and constructing a well to provide drinking water and irrigation for another village.

A temple in Bagan.

As for Dr. Oo Ko, he isn’t the only Belmond doctor who helps patients in Myanmar. A physician on the “Belmond Road to Mandalay” also operates pop-up health clinics at villages visited by that river cruise boat. And in Bagan – where a horse cart takes us clip-clopping around some of the ancient city’s 3,000 red-brick temples and stupas – the company opened a free clinic in 2011. Patients come from all over the country, sometimes taking days to make the trip. They’re given a free lunch and the elderly get reading glasses too. So far, over 40,000 patients have been treated.

Luxury and “giving back” go hand in hand

Dr. Oo Ko’s service and informative talk gives us a little more insight into a country of stark contrasts undergoing rapid change – a place where red-robed monks still beg for alms and oxen plough fields, as land prices soar in Yangon and international hotel chains and food franchise empires fight for a slice of Myanmar’s growing tourism pie.

Red-robed monks in Myanmar.

We reflect on this as we leave the “Belmond Orcaella.” From Bulgari bath amenities to a chef who tantalizes us with veal cheeks slow-cooked in local dark beer, Belmond has perfected the art of river cruising in Myanmar. But it’s also perfected the art of “giving back” to the exotic country we are fortunate to explore as its guests.

Inside the Belmond Orcaella.

The lovely staff onboard the Belmond Orcaella.

About the guest writers

Janice and George Mucalov

Janice and George Mucalov are award-winning travel writers with a taste for luxury and a thirst for adventure. Janice mostly authors their Sand In My Suitcase travel blog, sharing their travel tales of hiking, snorkeling, temple touring, wildlife spotting and bedding down in dreamy digs around the world. They never say “no” to a spa treatment. But they also love highlighting activities offered by (surprisingly many!) cruise lines, hotels and tour operators that help in some way to make this world a better place. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

A glorious sunset appeared after a thunderstorm at Perhentian Kecil at the time MH17 was downed.

“Keith, wake up!”

I opened my eyes and looked around in a daze. My partner broke the news to me: a Malaysia Airlines plane en-route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur had been downed in eastern Ukraine, presumably by a missile. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Was this a bad dream? I reached out for my phone and checked the news. There it was and I still couldn’t believe it. I checked every news source I could think of and they all had it as their breaking story. My first thought was “not again! Another Malaysia Airlines incident in just a few months!” I was numbed by the news. Shocked. It was too horrific for words. The initial shock quickly made way for a great sadness, the intensity of which I’d not felt in a long time. I grew up with Malaysia Airlines – my Dad was one of their first crew when the airline was formed in the 1960’s – and being a Dutch national, this incident hit home unlike any other.

My partner and I were enjoying our holiday on Pulau Perhentian Kecil, a small island on the east coast of Malaysia, when it happened. I couldn’t help but think of all the people on the plane who were on the way to their holiday destinations. My partner and I flew that exact same route only a week before. Similar to the route taken by MH17, we also flew from Amsterdam across Ukraine and past Donetsk to Kuala Lumpur. We later met a Dutch family at the hotel who were visibly upset. They’d arrived in Malaysia on MH17 just two days before. They told us of the family of their son’s classmate; the parents and their two children (one of whom was the classmate) were on the flight that was downed. They’d left one child behind in Holland, their teenage daughter who’d chosen to spend her summer holiday with friends. It was heart-breaking.

A note left at the MH17 memorial at Schiphol Airport. It reads: “Why? Rest in peace. You’re in our thoughts”.

WHY? All those innocent people whose lives were lost and FOR WHAT? The questions swarmed around in my mind and grief soon turned to anger. That anger only grew when scenes of thieves and drunks trampling around the crash site were shown on television. It was just sickening.

A week later, my partner and I arrived in Thailand. We made our way to the immigrations counter and found hundreds of Russians in the queue ahead of us. They were on their summer holiday too. I looked around and saw their excited faces, and I could feel the anger welling up inside. I knew it wasn’t their fault – they had nothing to do with the downing of MH17 – but I somehow felt that they were to blame too. If Russia had not annexed Crimea to start with, this probably wouldn’t have happened. “Blame their government, not these people”, my partner said. “But they probably voted for that idiot!”, I retorted. It was silly I know but my emotions were getting the better of me. I took a step back, mentally, and reasoned with myself. The anger soon subsided and in the next few days, we even struck up friendly conversations with various Russians, though the topic was consciously avoided. They knew our nationality but not one word was said about the incident which was fine with me. I certainly didn’t want to ruin my holiday by getting into an emotional discussion.

All in all, we had a wonderful holiday, island-hopping in Malaysia, spending time with my family and friends in Kuala Lumpur and lazing on the beach in Thailand. The time just flew by and soon we were on a plane back to Amsterdam. The captain announced that he would of course not be flying over Ukraine. I guess it was mentioned to reassure the passengers but to me, it only served as a grim reminder. We arrived in Amsterdam twelve hours later and after clearing customs, we made a beeline for the makeshift MH17 memorial at the airport. As soon as I spotted it, I raised my hands to my face and sobbed. Before me, stretched out at least a hundred yards, was a sea of flowers, candles, teddy bears, letters, photos, little flags and other tokens of love. I looked around me and noticed teary-eyed people in respectful silence. They walked along the memorial, stopping to read one of the many letters, to light a candle or to place another bouquet of flowers. The outpouring of sorrow and of love at this memorial was just overwhelming but I was thankful for it. Like many before me, it was a place to which I could channel my emotions, reflect and pay my respects.

A sea of flowers at the MH17 memorial at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

A child’s tribute to one of the victims.

Flowers, teddy bears and candles.

The Malaysian flag graces the memorial.

Commemorating the Australian victims.

To all the families, loved ones, colleagues and friends of the passengers and crew of MH17, my thoughts are with you. I can’t begin to imagine what you’re going through but I wish you lots of love and strength.

As I welcome the first dawn of the new year, I can’t help but look back at 2013. It was an amazing year for me in many respects. 30-odd trips across six continents, visiting the most extraordinary places, meeting inspiring people, making new friends, speaking at events around the world, a flourishing business, winning a best blog award in Canada and an interview with The New York Times.

I remember the first morning of 2013: I was tucked warmly in bed, down with the flu, and thinking about that miserable start to the new year. As it turned out, I couldn’t have asked for a better year! With reflection comes gratitude and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunities that have come my way, my friends and family who have supported me in my new career path, and the terrific people I work with. THANK YOU!

A new year’s resolution?

I don’t believe in new year’s resolutions – who remembers them a month into the new year, right? Instead, I prefer to see each new year as a blank canvas, waiting to be filled with colour, beauty and inspiration. It’s up to me to create the best painting I can with all the tools I have. I’m very excited about the new year and I’m convinced my painting will be a stunner! That said, there’s one thing that I aim to achieve this year (hmmm, a resolution after all? Haha!). In the past four years, working on this blog, building my business and travelling have often come at the expense of time spent with my family and loved ones. When you’re so caught up in one aspect of your life, it’s often easy to take the other aspects for granted. And life is too precious to take the people I love for granted. In 2014, I will make a bigger effort to strike a good balance between my work and my personal life. More time with my family and loved ones, and not just be with them in person, but also in spirit. Yes, ‘balance’ will be the underlying principle for me this year; it’ll be the basis of the painting I intend to create. It won’t always be easy (it never is, isn’t it?) but I’ll find a way.

May you have a terrific new year filled with love, laughter, inspiration and success! Remember to… go explore. experience. and be inspired. And safe travels!

This is the second of a two-part series about my solo road trip around Victoria, Australia. Read Part One (if you haven’t already).

Mingling with the local wildlife

I left Daylesford Springs for the 45-minute drive to Ballarat, a town famous as the ‘Gateway to Victoria’s Goldfields’. It was a lovely drive past verdant, undulating landscapes. My first stop was at the Ballarat Wildlife Park. Set in 116 hectares of beautiful peppermint gum woodland, the park turned out to be one of my highlights on my road trip. I was greeted by Stu Parker, the son of the proprietor, Greg Parker. Together with his famous three-year-old brother, Charlie (who’s been featured in media around the world such as the NY Daily and The Guardian as the world’s youngest wildlife ranger and gator wrestler!), Stu took me on an unforgettable tour of the park.

Cute quokkas

And equally adorable koalas!

What made my visit so special was the passion shared by the Parker family for the conservation of Australian wildlife. As we stopped to view the kangaroos, wombats, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, alligators, crocodiles, quokkas and koalas, Stu filled his commentary with hilarious anecdotes and poignant stories about the animals. I loved the story of Patrick, the park’s famous 28-year-old wombat, who was caught ‘driving’ the family’s car (!), and shared the sadness felt by the family of the loss of Gator, the park’s star performer who recently passed away after a sudden illness. The challenges the family faces and the joy they derive from the animals were deeply inspiring. In addition, I had a fabulous time posing with the cute koalas and playing with the friendly kangaroos. If you’re visiting Victoria, you must drop by at the Ballarat Wildlife Park, a 1.5 hour drive from Melbourne.

Meet Patrick, the wombat!

Feeding the roos!

A room with a tower!

I continued my drive into Ballarat, where I checked into the stunning Craig’s Royal Hotel, Ballarat’s oldest hotel. The hotel, with its plush Victorian-era interior, was a sight to behold. I was given the Tower Suite, a gorgeous room with opulent Victorian furnishings and a jacuzzi! There was a staircase that led to the tower where I found a cosy tea-room and fabulous views of Ballarat. As I looked around in awe, I half-expected people in Victorian clothing to appear! Hmmm, that thought spooked me!

Craig’s Royal Hotel – my room was in that tower in the corner.

My room at the Craig’s Royal Hotel.

That afternoon, I went on a stroll around Ballarat’s historic centre. The impact of the 19th century gold rush that brought much wealth to the city is unmistakable; the city centre boasts broad boulevards lined by stately buildings, interspersed by bursts of greenery and imposing monuments.

Beautiful historic buildings in Ballarat.

Later that afternoon, I visited Sovereign Hill, an open-air museum that recreates life during Victoria’s gold-rush era. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but everyone I spoke to said the same thing: you have to go there!

A surreal gold-rush experience

Sovereign Hill turned out to be a remarkable, somewhat surreal, experience. The minute attention to detail was the first thing that struck me as I walked down the town’s Main Street. It truly felt like I’d stepped back in time. The buildings looked incredibly authentic and the costumed actors who walked the streets or manned the stores played their parts to perfection. I was especially impressed by the massive machinery in the Boiler & Engine House and the atmospheric Victoria Theatre.

Main Street in Sovereign Hill.

I also attended a demonstration showing how gold bars are made.

After having my picture taken (in costume of course!), I went on a gold mine tour that started with a train-ride into the depths of an old mine. The guide expertly mixed bits of facts and figures with fascinating rags-to-riches, but often gut-wrenching stories from this bygone era. I also got to do a spot of gold-panning and lo-and-behold, I found a speck of gold! My guide seemed impressed by my panning skills – “You must’ve done this before. You’ve got a great technique!”. Errr, thanks! I’d never touched a gold pan before. Later that afternoon, as I was presented the costumed photo of me, I couldn’t help but notice how comfortable I looked in those clothes. Perhaps… in a past life? A rags-to-riches story? Hmmm, perhaps not.

What do you think?

my mind was free to enjoy the scenery and to reflect, or to think of nothing at all.

The sun shone brightly the next day – perfect for my drive to the Grampians, a chain of ancient mountains in Victoria’s western edges. I said goodbye to Ballarat and drove in a westerly direction towards Dunkeld, a small community at the foot of the southern Grampians. The scenery was absolutely stunning: from green rolling hills and picturesque gum-tree forests to expansive plains and sleepy villages. I drove carefully, taking care not to take my eyes off of the road (there were many kangaroo crossing warnings) but it was hard. The scenery was simply bewitching.

Out in the country, looking out for crossing kangaroos!

I chatted with myself, sang along to whatever my iPhone was playing and waved ‘hello’ to the many birds and sheep I passed – I know… I’m weird! Haha! The GPS lady barked the occasional instructions but aside from those helpful but annoying moments, my mind was free to enjoy the scenery and to reflect, or to think of nothing at all. I was having a terrific time on this solo road trip!

The attack of the giant Aussie mozzies!

I decided to stop at beautiful Lake Bolac, not far from Dunkeld. I drove around the lake and found a spot with amazing views of the lake and the Grampians looming in the distance. I turned off the engine and was about to open the door when something stopped me in my tracks. I first noticed a few of them but their numbers swelled within a minute. I froze. Swarming outside the window, like a giant cloud, were the biggest, most vicious mosquitoes I’ve ever seen. There’s one thing you should know about me: people I travel with, especially in the tropics, love sitting next to me because mosquitoes love me! I switched on the engine in horror, activated the wipers and made a hasty getaway!

Attack of the Aussie mozzies!

one of the most entertaining wine-tastings I’ve ever had!

I arrived in Dunkeld, still reeling from that mosquito experience, and headed straight for my accommodation: the Royal Mail. The contrast with the Victorian grandeur of my previous accommodation could not have been greater. The Royal Mail exuded a casual, contemporary ambiance. My room was bright, spacious and had a gorgeous view of the mountains. I was greeted by Marc, my travel companion and guide for the day.

My room at the Royal Mail Hotel.

The view from my room at the Royal Mail.

Not long after, I was in the car with him and off we went for a private tour of ‘his’ Grampians. We visited the hotel’s lovely kitchen gardens and the private villas at the foot of Mt. Sturgeon before heading further west towards Tarrington. It was clear that sheep-farming is a big business in this region.

Sheep and beautiful grasslands around Dunkeld.

My attention turned to the wineries – we were in the heart of the Henty Wine Region – and Marc offered to take me to one. We soon pulled up at the Mount Pierrepoint Estate for a wine-tasting and were welcomed by Jennifer. We hit it off in an instant and I had a brilliant time listening to her stories about life in the region. It was one of the most entertaining wine-tastings I’ve ever had! The 2011 Alexandra Chardonnay and the 2011 Pierrepoint Pinot Gris were my absolute favourites.

Wine-tasting with Jennifer at Mount Pierrepoint estate.

The charming Mount Pierrepoint estate.

That evening, I had an amazing meal at the renowned Royal Mail Bistro – the chefs and the restaurant personnel truly excel in creating an unforgettable gastronomic experience, combining organic ingredients sourced from their kitchen garden and from artisan producers, with modern culinary techniques.

Gorgeous cuisine at the Royal Mail in Dunkeld.

Up into the Grampians

The Grampians are known for their iffy weather so I was very grateful when I woke up the next morning to the sound of chirping birds and clear blue skies. I left Dunkeld behind me as I headed in a northerly direction towards Halls Gap, the gateway to the Grampians National Park. The road took me past thick forests, imposing mountains and views of the vast Western Plains – the Grampians are an incredible sight, pretty much like a series of giant ship hulls jutting out of a flat seabed.

On the road to Halls Gap.

Once in Halls Gap, I met my guide, the bubbly Eda from Grampians Eco Tours. We hopped into her car and drove up the winding roads into the mountains. The mountain scenery and panoramic vistas were truly spectacular. Our first stop was Mackenzie Falls. We hiked down to the falls, a steep descent that led us into a stunning gorge.

The Mackenzie Falls.

We then continued to the Balconies, a series of rocky outcrops with amazing views, before stopping at the Boroka Lookout where we had a picnic. The views of the plains below and the mountains around us were truly astounding. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see much of the wildlife that the Grampians are famous for, like kangaroos, wallabies, emus and wombats, but that’s a perfect reason to return one day.

The Balconies.

The panoramic view from our picnic spot at the Boroka Lookout.

From Halls Gap, it was a four-hour drive back to the centre of Melbourne. As the Melbourne skyline glistened in the bright sunshine before me, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness that this solo road trip had come to an end. It felt like an appetiser, with more courses to come. I’m sure they will, in Victoria or in other parts of the world. One thing is certain: this solo road trip in Victoria has opened my eyes to yet another terrific way to travel. And now I’m hooked!

]]>https://velvetescape.com/solo-road-trip-victoria-australia-2/feed/11Never forgethttps://velvetescape.com/nelson-mandela-tribute/
https://velvetescape.com/nelson-mandela-tribute/#commentsThu, 05 Dec 2013 22:51:42 +0000https://velvetescape.com/?p=13541It’s a sad day for the world. With the passing of Nelson Mandela, we have lost one of the most inspiring and courageous figures of our time. Madiba, your courage, determination and messages of forgiveness and reconciliation will never be forgotten. You were and always will be a beacon of peace and hope.

My thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to Madiba’s family and all my South African friends.

Inspiring quotes by Nelson Mandela

As a tribute to Nelson Mandela, I’ve included below several Nelson Mandela quotes that have truly inspired me.

It always seems impossible until it’s done. There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.

As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself… Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.

True reconciliation does not consist in merely forgetting the past.

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others… For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET.

REST IN PEACE MADIBA.

]]>https://velvetescape.com/nelson-mandela-tribute/feed/4Travel like a local with localshttps://velvetescape.com/travel-like-local-with-locals/
https://velvetescape.com/travel-like-local-with-locals/#commentsThu, 24 Oct 2013 11:47:38 +0000https://velvetescape.com/?p=14137In the past ten months, I’ve travelled to Madrid, Marrakech, Marseille, Avignon, Berlin and Montréal as part of the HouseTrip diplomat programme to explore these destinations and stay at HouseTrip holiday rentals. The experiences, from searching for the best bouillabaisse in Marseille to uncovering exotic chic in Marrakech, have been rich and lots of fun, all thanks to the hosts who made my stay so incredible. It was quickly clear to me that staying at a holiday rental allowed me to travel like a local, with locals!

Interview with a holiday rental host

Stephan telling us about the history of the building (image courtesy of @ThePlanetD)

Everywhere I went, the holiday rental hosts, with their gracious hospitality and almost encyclopedic knowledge of their home city, made the biggest impression on me. I had many fascinating conversations with the hosts and learned a lot about them and their lives. Examples include the lovely Eva in Marseille who takes great pleasure in not only hosting guests in her apartment but showing them around town, or the world traveller Martina in Berlin who decorates her lofts with gorgeous art collected during her travels. One of the most interesting hosts I had the opportunity to meet was Stephan, who owns various lofts in Berlin’s Moabit district. He was the perfect holiday rental host; welcoming, informative, helpful, easily reachable but not intrusive. I’d not heard of Moabit prior to this visit to Berlin so I quizzed him for things to see and do in the neighbourhood. That led to a wonderful and often hilarious conversation about the history of his lofts, and how he and his wife bought and (lovingly) renovated the buildings. Here’s my interview with Stephan:

1. Please introduce yourself and your accommodation options.

My name is Stephan. I came to Berlin in 1982 to study Physics. Together with my wife Babett we discovered that we love to renovate flats and buildings. It is simply good for our relationship. *wink*

Stephan’s beautiful loft that I stayed at in Moabit.

We did this at first with all the rotten flats we rented in Berlin and then decided to buy all the flats first before we started to transform them into decent homes for other landlords. We started with a felt company building which was the home in 1968 to 1969 of the so called Commune 1, the German Hippie movement. We rented one floor at first, transformed it into the office of my growing engineering business. It started simple with repairing the huge oil heating with all the other tenants of the house and put up wooden frames with plastic sheets to cope with the cold winter season.

It took us several years and we invested a lot of time and money to transform this nice building into a reasonable home. After finishing complete flats we had to do something with it. We decided to rent them as vacation homes. It is nice to see and speak to so many people from abroad coming to Berlin with their stories. We did more flats in the adjacent blacksmith building and the two-storey horse stable.

Another of Stephan’s gorgeous lofts in Moabit.

All our flats are at the same location, close to the new main train station in Mitte/Tiergarten/Moabit/Stephankiez.

2. What makes Moabit a great neighbourhood to stay in Berlin?

Moabit is a central residential area which is still in a kind of original state. Gentrification has not changed lives here very much and it is not a place for partying. You have very good connections to public transport, local shops and affordable restaurants. You can do the complete center by bike. There are nice almost unknown parks like the Fritz-Schloß Park and Kleiner Tiergarten and of course the big Tiergarten at Brandenburg Gate as well as the lake Plötzensee where you can go for a swim which we do quite often on hot summer evenings.

3. What are your favourite shops, cafés, bars and restaurants in the neighbourhood and why?

I like the small and simple cafés and shops like the restaurant Arema and the Thea & Coffee coffeshop in Birkenstreet. Instead of big opera and theatre, I like the many small occasions where there is an author reading at my favourite Dorotheen book store with music, or a small jazz concert in the beautiful renovated Arminus Markethall in Turmstreet. In Moabit are many civic alliances caring for kids, playgrounds and the local community. There are many opportunities to participate. You can just walk through the streets and discover the backyards where hidden artists have their workshops, listen to music and follow the activity of the Berlin people.

4. What are your recommendations to guests visiting Berlin for the first time?

There are many sights you must have seen like the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate because of their historical importance. You will find all these landmarks in travel guides of course. Besides that, Berlin is changing quickly. There are always new things, some with an experimental character, just starting. For example the new public place of the former Tempelhof Airport – the airport famous as the ‘air bridge’ between Berlin and the West during the Cold War. It is a huge new area open to the public where you can test things which need space – biking, skating, try your new paper kite or open a field game for your birthday or do a little bit of gardening. It is worth to be discovered and fill it with your new ideas. Do not forget to find a bike first if you are not a runner to discover the whole field – it is big.

Fun on the old runway of Tempelhof Airport (image courtesy of Steven Vance)

Another place I love is the lake Plötzensee I mentioned before in the north of Berlin very close to us. Basically ten minutes by bike. You can go into the very nice and huge park and from there to the border of the lake, jump over the fence and take a really good refreshing bath. Babett and I do this in the summer quite often. Only a few people know this opportunity. You can also go to the other side of the lake. There is a man made beach bath with several old buildings with was built during the 1930’s.

There many other places to take a bath in Berlin like the Wansee beach bath which is always very crowded or the numerous lakes in Brandenburg state.

5. Your lofts are located in a fascinating building. Could you tell me more about the building, its history and the renovation work? (I especially loved the terrace which could only be accessed via the bathroom with its beautiful sink).

You are right Keith, some of our lofts like the Commune 1 building have an interesting history. Some of the communards are still alive as well as their supporters. Some have become German parliament members and ministers, while others have committed suicide after they became leading members of the RAF terrorist group. Jimmy Hendrix spent an evening with the beautiful Commune 1 member Uschi Obermeier in the Stephan street loft. The history of this Commune 1 group started from political comedy and imaginative rebellion against the society which then became criminalized by the establishment. We have two spacious lofts in this building.

The Hayloft as another example is in a two-storey horse stable. Horses went up a ramp to the first floor. Plumbers used the second floor before us and installed an old stone sink like the ones youth hostels have in their bathrooms. If you go through a very little door at the end of this bathroom you enter a spacious sunny terrace.

The sunny terrace!

The neighboring building was built in 1905 with a big red brick chimney. We are still not sure what was produced there – something about spiral spring production. You can sit in the quiet backyard and enjoy the sun after a full day of discoveries in Berlin. We always try to make our flats cosy and warm and support communication through architecture and design. The main living room always has plenty of space, a big table and areas to stay together in a kind of relaxed mood. That’s how we try to make our guests feel at home, like locals in our city!

Spacious living room in the loft inside the old forge.

Check out the video below of interviews with Stephan and Martina in Berlin by Dave & Deb from The Planet D!

Two weeks ago, I published a post titled “Is Plane Talk Dying?” in which I asked if we, as travellers, are becoming less social on planes. This post sparked a fascinating discussion and many readers contributed their views both on this blog as well as via social media. A week later, this post was re-published on News.com.au, the leading Australian online news portal. Many more people contributed their views and I had a great time reading through the numerous comments.

So… is plane talk dying? What do the readers think?

Judging from the many responses, I’m inclined to think that we are indeed becoming a lot less social on planes for a multitude of reasons: some want a bit of ‘down time’ for themselves whilst many others simply couldn’t be bothered anymore after previous rather harrowing experiences. Many attribute it to improvements in inflight entertainment whilst others point to a broader development in today’s society, namely the rise of social media.

There were also various stories that I found very uplifting – people who met the love of their life or someone who inspired them. Phew! There’s still hope for plane talk!

Here’s a selection of some of my favourite comments sourced from both Velvet Escape and News.com.au:

I loved this little story

I’ve been wondering lately when airplanes became like libraries. It can be daunting talking to people because you feel so conspicuous. Nevertheless, in January I was on a daytime flight from Toronto to Los Angeles and ended up talking to my seatmate Eric for 5 hours! I was starting my South American odyssey and he was on his way to study veterinary medicine in New Zealand for a year and it was his first time away from home (he was 17 but by his own admission looked like he was 12.) We were both brimming with nervous energy and it was a fun, meandering conversation that seemed to bemuse our third seatmate who stayed silent throughout, but could be seen smirking from time to time. Aside from us chattering away, the rest of the plane was eerily silent. I occasionally think about Eric and wonder how he got on in NZ and whether he still has a photo of his cow on his iPhone case. – Steph

Some down time for ‘me’ (image courtesy of Anders Adermark).

When flying isn’t fun!

I feel like I’ve had similar situations on planes these days. Usually, I bring my journal along in the plane to see if someone strikes up a conversation (begging the “what cha doing?” question). I have tried myself, but it has, at times, lead to some disastrous results.

This sums up my past experiences:

*10 hour flight Seoul to Amsterdam with a rather smelly 20 yr old.
*10 hour flight Amsterdam to Seoul with middle aged women talking to each other the whole time, while basically leaning over my seat and covering my screen the entire time. The crew wouldn’t say anything because of the honor older people are given in Korea
*5 hour flight with a guy who took up at least a seat and a half.

But I had had some pleasant flights.

*I met a girl on a flight in 2009. We didn’t speak each others language but found out we live in the same city. We exchanged info, but I lost track of her once we reached China. We actually hung out when I returned, but the magic of “meeting on a plane” had ended.

I wish I met more talkative people on planes …and that I wasnt so shy. – Julio Moreno

~~~

I remember that a guy I had a really good conversation with, later threw up on me. Is that why I stopped talking to people on planes? hahaha – Melvin Boecher

Inflight screens (image courtesy of Doug).

Some inspiration

I met a really nice guy on my flight back from San Francisco in 2011. He encouraged me to continue working toward my life’s ambition, and also gave me some great inspiration. I’m so grateful for that, even if I only knew the guy for a 12 hour flight. – Ethan of Sydney

Un-social impact of social media

No body has conversations these days cause it is all done through our phones on facebook and other social media. I was having a conversation with my father about this and he said no one knows how to socialise or engage anymore, I tend to agree. The only time people will do this is drunk in a pub, chatting to someone on the train or a plane is not a regular thing you see (or hear). I have met some very interesting people on planes, however it is a bit of a skill picking the person to talk to as you don’t want a drunk or someone who just doesn’t shut up, or listen. I’ll continue to chat away. – Sean Cullen

There’s no escape!

The reason we don’t do it on planes is that if the conversation is no good you can’t escape. Its hard to say “gee look at the time, I have to run as I have an appointment to get to” hmm come to think of it, that would be an interesting thing to say to someone at 35,000 ft just to see there reaction. Gold! – Ejay of Australia

Food for thought

What a sad state of affairs. People afraid to not look at each other or engage with each other because they can’t be either bothered or are scared the other person might be a “nutjob” Have you ever stopped to think others might think YOU are the nutjob and are avoiding you? I was born and raised in the inner west in Sydney and worked for half of my life in the city where talking to the person next to you on the bus or train was something you didn’t do and we all sat their expressionless as we were transported to and from work. This article just proves that this behaviour has moved to airline travel. For the last 20 years I’ve lived in a small country tourist town and I love interaction with both people I know and visitors. When some city visitors come to town and are greeted with a simple hello they almost recoil and avoid contact. It’s almost as if the hello is unbelievable and that I must want something. We just want to say hello. The scary thing is that I acknowledge that is what I used to be like and it took living in the country to realise it. It’s a sorry world where we can’t be bothered to simply talk to a person next to you. – Snowy Mtns Man

Or you could try chatting with people in other seats? (image courtesy of Angie Hu)

Cheap fares, flying buses and bogans

I have been a frequent flyer ever since my 1st flight when I was 6 weeks old. I have experienced the loss of excitement about flying and lament that loss. The excitement, when shared, does make the flight more enjoyable. However, as we have now all become little more than numbers and the the experience has been downgraded to little more than travelling in a “flying” bus, the social side has also died. The major reason however is the rise of the “entertainment” options, stick on some earphones and you don’t have to talk (or listen) to your neighbour. – Mungo of Sydney

~~~

In the distant past it was something special to travel by plane…..back prior to cheap fares. Of course a pleasant conversation with an adjoin passenger was the thing. Now with the cheap fares enabling noisy, rude and common bogans to travel…..most even avoid eye contact with them, forget about conversation. – Pacific Pam

~~~

We seem to be becoming more elite, arrogant and less compassionate at about the same rate we’re overpopulating. Just bury your head in your phone and forget about being human. – Troyboy

~~~

That’s ridiculous. We probably speak to and communicate with more people in our modern lives than at any point in human history. And we get criticised because we want a bit of time to ourselves on a flight? It’s not rude or even anti-social. It’s just called getting some balance back! – Richard

~~~

Nice. I recently spent 14 hours on a plane from LA next to a couple that wouldn’t even look sideways at you. Weird, especially since we all had to sleep next to each other. I didn’t mind that much but thought it strange. It’s good to respect peoples privacy but some people take it to extremes. – PF of Perth

~~~

You can sum people up fairly quickly when you settle into an airplane seat. And most of the time, they don’t want to talk to you and you don’t want to talk to them. You can say hello, smile and settle back with earphones and book at the ready. Neither of you are exposed to the horror of 2/12/24 hours of being bored to death by someone who doesn’t know when to stop. Planes are so cramped nowadays you just have to have a bit of personal space for survival with sanity intact, and that means merciful silence when appropriate. – Primmy of Sydney

A big thank you goes to the readers who contributed their views via Velvet Escape, News.com.au and social media.

“I don’t talk to people on planes anymore. To be honest, I can’t remember the last time I had a conversation with someone sitting next to me on a plane”, I said to Melvin as we stood on the plane-spotters deck next to one of Frankfurt Airport’s runways. Another 747 rumbled past as I dwelled on this thought.

Melvin responded: “That would’ve been me!… Our flight from Durban to Johannesburg.” We had a good chuckle about it and Melvin added that he too seldom speaks to people on planes.

Has flying become less social?

“Why is that? Has flying become less social?” I wondered out loud. In my teens, even in my 20’s, I would often strike up a conversation with anyone sitting next to me in a plane. I found it fascinating to learn more about that person; where they were from, where they were going to and why, and what they did. One conversation I would never forget happened on a flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur. I was 14 and on my way home. An elderly lady sat next to me – she was Australian and was on her way to visit relatives in Germany – and we hit it off in an instant. We talked almost non-stop for the entire duration of the flight (about nine hours) and Renate and I became good friends. Since then, we’ve visited each other and every year, around Christmas, we send each other a card and a long letter detailing our year – she’s the only person I still communicate with via ‘snail mail’!

Visiting Renate in her hometown Canberra.

Another time, I sat next to a journalist from the Wall Street Journal. As I was studying Economics at the time, we engaged in a lengthy and lively discussion about the political-economic situation of the world at the time.

So, why don’t I do that anymore? I thought about this and recalled the drunk I sat next to on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur who cursed and yelled at me and others around us. The cabin staff warned him to stop several times but they couldn’t change my seat as the flight was full. After several hours, he passed out in his seat for the rest of the flight. That incident certainly put me off talking to people on planes for a bit, but it certainly isn’t the answer to my question.

She didn’t say another word to me during the rest of the 12-hour flight.

That said, I probably haven’t always been the most pleasant person to fly with either. One time, I sat next to a lady and as the plane lifted off the runway, I remarked how amazing it was that a machine weighing more than 400,000kg could simply take off into the sky like a bird. She clutched the armrests tightly and glared at me before saying that she preferred not to think of such things while in the air. She didn’t say another word to me during the rest of the 12-hour flight. Haha!

A little escape

I still haven’t answered that question now have I? I guess the answer lies in one’s state of mind or perspective. When I was younger, flying was a great adventure and I was all too eager to share my excitement with anyone who bothered listening to me. These days, I see flying as a means to get from point A to B. Moreover, busy schedules and an equally busy personal life leaves little time for myself. Flying has become a little escape – my time for me; a place where I can quietly pursue leisurely activities like reading a book or watching a movie or playing Angry Birds (my favourite!). I also use this time to reflect on something or come up with new ideas.

I don’t seem to be the only one who thinks this way. Most people I sit next to these days seem quite pleased that I’m not the talkative type. There’s often a quick exchange of pleasantries, then the headphones appear or they bury themselves in a book: a clear “Do Not Disturb” sign. People are also willing to pay more for their privacy. Many airlines these days have single seats, or screens separating two seats in Business and First Class.

My own space in Cathay Pacific’s Business Class cabin.

At the other end of the spectrum, airlines like KLM have introduced social media integration during the booking process, allowing passengers to check if anyone in their social circles are on board the same flight. I’ve never used this function.

When was the last time you had a conversation with the person sitting next to you in a plane?

Have you met someone on a plane who inspired you or someone with whom you became friends/partners? Please feel free to share your story in the comments section below.

]]>https://velvetescape.com/plane-talk/feed/23Six months of travel and a little breakhttps://velvetescape.com/travel-break/
https://velvetescape.com/travel-break/#commentsThu, 11 Jul 2013 15:01:11 +0000https://velvetescape.com/?p=13616The first six months of 2013 have proven to be just as eventful as the same period last year. 2013 kicked off in a quiet way – I spent most of the winter months at home in Amsterdam, and what a winter it was! Not only was it excruciatingly cold, it seemed to last forever and the snow just kept coming!

Keeping warm in a wintry Amsterdam.

My first trip was to Belgrade in Serbia where I assisted the German National Tourist Board by speaking at the International Tourism Fair about their youth travel programme. It was just as cold and snowy in Belgrade and I didn’t get to see much of it but what I saw certainly intrigued me.

Not long after that trip to Madrid, I found myself in the chaotic streets of Marrakech in Morocco. This city, with its ancient souks and alleys, stunning palaces and ditto courtyards, was a truly exotic experience. My travel mates, Dave & Deb (@ThePlanetD), added a dash of adventure and we had a brilliant time exploring the city together.

Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech

From Marrakech, we flew to Berlin where I gave a presentation at ITB Berlin, the world’s biggest tourism trade fair. It was really cool to meet my fellow bloggers and catch up with what everyone’s doing.

Several weeks later, I was on a plane to the south of France. I visited Marseille for the first time – and loved this city by the Mediterranean Sea which this year is proud to be the European Capital of Culture – and then hired a car, driving around the Provence, with lovely Avignon as my base.

The historic Vieux Port in Marseille.

The Papal Palace in Avignon.

Brazil was my next stop. Melvin (@traveldudes) and I spent four glorious days in Rio de Janeiro, surely one of my favourite cities in the world. The weather was perfect for some beach time and lengthy walks around the city. From here, we flew to Sao Paulo, where we did various presentations at the WTM Latin America tourism trade fair.

Me at the top of the Corcovado mountain.

Two days after returning home from Brazil, I was on another plane, this time to Bologna for the launch of Blogville. It was a very quick visit to attend the press conference and do several media interviews, and before I knew it, I was on another plane home! A few days later, I found myself landing in Johannesburg for the start of the #MeetSouthAfrica blog trip. I had a terrific time in South Africa, visiting places and regions I’d never been to before such as Johannesburg (which was a very pleasant surprise!), the Pilanesberg National Reserve (where we went on an unforgettable safari), the Free State and the lovely oceanside city of Durban. One of my highlights of this trip was meeting one of my readers in his hometown. In Durban, I attended and spoke at Africa’s largest trade fair, INDABA.

Bertrand (far left), one of my readers, showed us his hometown and took us to one of his favourite watering holes!

After spending a few weeks in Amsterdam and attending the TBU travel bloggers conference in Rotterdam, I crossed the Atlantic yet again, first to Montréal. My first time in this city and I loved its laid-back pace and fabulous diversity. I can so see myself living there, one day perhaps!

Having my very first poutine in Montréal!

From Montréal, I flew to Toronto for the TBEX travel bloggers conference. I was pretty overwhelmed to be in the company of 1,300 travel bloggers but I had a great time meeting many American and Canadian travel bloggers (whom I’d only known via social media) for the first time. The highlight of my stay in Toronto was of course calling the incredibly luxurious Four Seasons Hotel my home for several days!

My Four Seasons ‘home’ in Toronto!

We partied into the night on Centre Island with this stunning view of the Toronto skyline.

Now it’s time for a break

Several years ago, I decided, after a long spell of travelling and blogging (and feeling rather jaded), to treat myself to a holiday. Totally offline. Just time for myself. It was the best thing I did that year! I came back reinvigorated and with a renewed passion for travel and writing. Since then, I’ve made it a custom to have a ‘digital detox’ break every year. No blogging and not a single tweet! After six-odd months of travel, I’m really looking forward to my break, which starts tomorrow. I’ll be somewhere in Europe, up in the mountains but close to the sea, in an accommodation that doesn’t offer wifi. I won’t have my laptop nor my camera with me. No pressures. Just me and time for myself.

My next post is scheduled for the 24th of July. Until then, please feel free to soak up some travel inspiration via my Velvet Escape World Map. Take care & travel safe!

Remember… “Go explore. Experience. And be inspired“.

]]>https://velvetescape.com/travel-break/feed/13Discovering the magic of South Africa in Paryshttps://velvetescape.com/magic-south-africa-parys/
https://velvetescape.com/magic-south-africa-parys/#commentsWed, 15 May 2013 12:01:36 +0000https://velvetescape.com/?p=13290It was our third day in South Africa and we were on our way from Pilanesberg National Park to Parys, a small town southwest of Johannesberg. Parys is Afrikaans for Paris.

“I bet it even has its own Eiffel Tower”, I joked.

To my surprise, Kate, our South Africa Tourism host, turned around and said, “yes, as a matter of fact, it does!”. We had a good laugh about it while my mind churned out all sorts of less-than-flattering adjectives. It was a long drive and thanks to our wifi-equipped van, we started tweeting about our visit. Kate sent a tweet asking for suggestions of things to do and see in Parys. Within moments, a guy named Bertrand responded and offered to show us his town.

@kate_els5454 How does local microbrewery beers, lunch, missioning through town, meeting some of the friendly locals sound? Who will join?

The Stonehenge

We arrived in Parys and headed straight for our accommodation, Stonehenge in Africa Lodge. “What? There’s a Stonehenge in Parys?” My initial thoughts of a quirky town were firmed up in an instant. As we drove up to the lodge, we passed the massive menhirs standing erect like their counterparts in England. A springbok and a few meerkats sprang across the road, a simple but effective reminder that we were indeed in Africa. We entered the lodge to find an impressive atrium with a beautiful fireplace in the middle. I walked outside and was greeted by a gorgeous lawn, a smattering of palm trees and a swimming pool. In the distance, I could hear and see the rapids of the Vaal River. The surroundings were absolutely lovely.

Inside the impressive Stonehenge in Africa Lodge.

The pool at the Stonehenge Lodge.

The Stonehenge in Africa Lodge.

The Vaal River

Bertrand came to pick us up at the lodge. He approached us with a big smile and welcomed us to his town. I soon found out that he’s been a reader of my blog for more than a year, and that he’d taken the afternoon off from work to show us around. That just blew me away. I mean, how cool is that?

Inspiration and fun at Kiki’s

My fellow blogger, Simon, and I hopped into Bertrand’s car and he drove us past meadows, beautiful homes with well-kept gardens, broad tree-lined avenues and the picturesque Vaal River to the centre of Parys. The town is best known for its many antique shops, restaurants, adventure activities (such as whitewater rafting, rock-climbing and abseiling) and golfing (Parys is home to two highly-rated golf courses located on islands in the Vaal River!). Bertrand smiled as he parked the car in front of a row of shops. “Here we are!” and he pointed to the photo studio in front of us. I looked at him quizzically. He noticed my expression and explained, “You’re so used to taking pictures everywhere you go. I thought it would be cool to flip things around and have pictures taken of you instead!” I took a deep breath and smiled back.

I had a good look at the board hanging above the entrance of the studio and read the words “KIKI’S VINTAGE PHOTO STUDIO” out loud. Bertrand laughed and assured us it was going to be fun. I quietly reminded myself to relax, keep an open mind and go with the flow.

Kiki’s Vintage Photo Studio

Inside the studio, Belinda, the owner, welcomed us with a glass of wine and proceeded to show us around her studio. It was a wondrous place, filled with antique furniture, clothing, cameras, bags and jewellery. The walls were covered with beautiful portraits of people dressed in a variety of styles.

Antique furniture, cameras and clothing at Kiki’s.

Vintage photos on the walls at Kiki’s.

The photo studio.

That’s the best part about this studio; it’s always filled with laughter

I asked Belinda what gave her the idea to open a vintage photo studio. She told us about her passions: collecting antique clothes and photography. One day, she was having coffee with a friend and they talked about starting a new business in Parys. It didn’t take long before the idea of a vintage photo studio sprang to mind. Since the opening, she has photographed couples, families and friends. “People come here to have their photos taken for a special occasion like a wedding or an anniversary but there are also others who simply want to have a fun afternoon dressing up and posing for the camera. That’s the best part about this studio; it’s always filled with laughter”. It wasn’t difficult to feel drawn to the story – Belinda told it with great passion and enthusiasm. It was an inspiring story of how we can bring joy into the lives of others by simply doing things we enjoy most.

Simon chatting with Belinda in the studio.

Soon, it was time to dress up and have our photos taken. Simon and I voted for the Gatsby style! Belinda helped us choose our outfits and we started laughing hysterically when we emerged from the changing room. Check out the photos below and you’ll see why! The fun continued as we struck a variety of poses; Simon played a madame and I took on the role of her bellboy and photographer.

It was a totally unexpected experience, one that I will not easily forget. We left Kiki’s Vintage Photo Studio feeling very inspired by Belinda’s story and with huge grins on our faces, all thanks to Bertrand! Belinda later gave me a CD containing the photos she took. This was my favourite. What do you think?

We walked down the street, past a variety of antique and home decor shops. Bertrand explained that the antique business in Parys started when the farming community in the area started to sell their old furniture. The number of antique shops grew as word spread across the country, attracting hoards of antique collectors.

Stores along Bree Street in Parys.

The Pickled Pig

We soon found ourselves outside a curious-looking pub: the Pickled Pig. Bertrand told us about the nearby micro-brewery, De Garve, and that we could have a beer-tasting at this pub. Simon and I didn’t have to think twice!

The Pickled Pig on Bree Street, Parys.

We walked in and were greeted by the gregarious owner, Nico. He presented us with a menu describing the six beers. I’ve been to various beer-tastings at micro-breweries but the tasting experience at the Pickled Pig is certainly unique. Perhaps it was the warm welcome we received from the locals that made the difference. They made us feel right at home and chatted excitedly with us about travel and their country. Their enthusiasm and curiosity were undeniably infectious.

Posing at the Pickled Pig with (left to right) Bertrand, Simon, Nico and me.

It was an unforgettable afternoon that was made very special by the fabulous hospitality of the locals. This was my fourth time in South Africa, a country that I fell in love with on my very first visit. I always wondered what it was that made this country so special. I certainly love its spectacular landscapes and nature, as well as its amazing array of food and wines but there was something else about it, something magical that keeps drawing me back. That afternoon with the locals in Parys gave me the final clue. The magic of South Africa is in its people and I’m thankful for people like Bertrand and Belinda for taking the time to share some of that magic with me.

That afternoon was also a great reminder of the pleasures of the unexpected when we travel with an open mind. Ditching my preconceptions about Parys and simply going with the flow resulted in memories I will cherish for a long, long time.

Oh… and in case you’re wondering… yes, we did get to see the Eiffel Tower in Parys!

The quirky Eiffel Tower in Parys.

Note: my trip to South Africa was part of the #MeetSouthAfrica project, a collaboration between the South Africa Tourism Board and iambassador. All views expressed above are mine, and mine only.

Wow, another year has passed. Well, almost. 2012 has been an incredible year for me, full of unforgettable travel moments, speaking engagements and many highlights shared with family and friends. I spent the first half of 2012 traversing the globe and the second half, erm… doing the same. And what a ride it’s been! Here are my twelve highlights of 2012:

1. Seeing thenorthern lights – I dreamed of this moment ever since I was a child and when I finally saw it, I mistook it for a strange cloud! Haha! My trip to Finnish Lapland is one I’ll never forget!

2. Speaking at ITB Berlin – ITB Berlin is one of the world’s largest travel fairs. In 2012, they went out of their way to woo travel bloggers to Berlin and I had the grandest honour of taking to their biggest stage to speak about travel blogging. I can still feel the adrenaline rush whenever I think of my presentation in that cavernous hall.

3. Back to the Iguazu Falls – the Iguazu Falls has a special place in my heart. I visited the falls for the first time in 2008 and its immense beauty inspired me to muster up the courage and embark on a new career path. I wrote about this moment in my ebook Travelations. Returning in 2012 was a trip down memory lane, this time with my friends and we had a blast!

4. #LoveCapeTown and up to the Victoria Falls – hardly a month after that trip to Brazil, I found myself in one of my favourite cities: Cape Town. I didn’t get to frolic with the Great Whites (Haha!) due to a fever (BAH!) but I got to enjoy the city’s breathtaking scenery, the Western Cape’s finest food and wines and stay at a villa I could, oh so easily, call home!

The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town

At the Victoria Falls

After a week of immersing ourselves in Cape Town, we flew up to Livingstone, near the Victoria Falls. These falls have always been high on my bucket list so it was an extraordinary experience to see them… about a month after being at the Iguazu Falls, another of the world’s iconic falls! We also spent a few days cruising along the Zambezi River and going on several safaris in the Chobe National Park in Botswana.

5. Spending (most of) the summer at home – after all that travelling, it was lovely to be back home and spend time with my family and friends. We headed for the beach every chance we got! Amsterdam is absolutely gorgeous in the summer, when everyone’s out in their boats and the alfresco restaurants and cafés are packed.

6. Digital detox in Budapest – After several weeks, I felt the travel bug stir and off I went, partner in tow, to Budapest. I decided to leave my laptop at home and promised myself I wouldn’t work while on this trip. We had a fabulous time exploring Budapest’s stunning cafés, thermal baths and markets, and not once did I log on to my blog or social media channels. It was the best thing I did that summer!

Winning the Best Luxury Travel blog prize at TBU Porto

7. Winning the Best Luxury Travel Blog award at TBU Porto – I went down to Porto, Portugal, for the Travel Bloggers Unite conference in Porto in early-September. I didn’t get to see much of the city, unfortunately, but the cruise down the Douro River and a stroll around the old city centre were absolutely wonderful. The Destinology Travel Bloggy Awards were held on the second night of the conference and it was awesome to win my very first award!

8. Turning 40 – I rushed back home from Porto to celebrate my 40th with my family and friends (some of whom had flown in from Canada). There was no big party. I hired a boat, prepared a picnic and off we went for a three-hour cruise around Amsterdam’s canals and harbour. The weather was perfect and we had a terrific time taking in the sights (I’ll never tire of seeing Amsterdam from the water) and drinking champagne. That evening, we had a lovely dinner at home and more friends joined in the fun. It was an unforgettable day! I must’ve heard the phrase “life begins at 40” a thousand times. Haha!

9. NOSH – a few weeks later, I was on a flight bound for Kuala Lumpur to attend an important family event: the opening of my sister’s restaurant, NOSH. It was great to spend time with my family again and to see my sister’s excitement. I may be biased but the food really impressed me. Despite the thunderstorms that day, the opening went very well and in the following weeks, the reviews appeared in the newspapers, blogs and websites. They were all superb! I couldn’t be more proud of my sister!

Me and my sister at NOSH

10. Pisa Forum – the Pisa Forum is one of the world’s leading tourism forums where experts in various fields (from research institutes to tourism boards, PR agencies and heads of travel businesses) are invited to Pisa each year to share their thoughts about tourism trends in the current year and brainstorm about potential trends in the next few years. Their discussions are then compiled into a report: the World Travel Trend Report, and distributed at the ITB travel fair in Berlin. This year, I had the honour of being the first travel blogger to receive an invitation from the Pisa Forum. It was an amazing experience to present the travel blogger story to this distinguished group in a stunning 15th century villa, Villa di Corliano. Look out for the report, and my contribution, at ITB Berlin next year!

11. TEDxTalk – arguably the highlight of 2012 for me was the opportunity to present a TEDxTalk. I was always a big fan of TEDTalks so when the Saxion University asked me if I would be interested in doing a TEDxTalk, I could hardly contain my excitement. YES!!! I chose to tell a simple personal story about passion and empowerment, and about how travel has changed me as a person. The adrenaline pumped through my veins and I couldn’t keep still. I’d never felt this nervous and excited in my life! Behind the curtains, I jumped and skipped around – to the detriment of the make-up lady who kept running behind me to ‘patch-up’ my face. Haha! I can now say that I’ve done my very own TEDxTalk! Woohoo! You’re most welcome to view my TEDxTalk.

On stage – TEDxTalk

Posing with Joan and Josep Roca at PremisG!

12. Winning the “Best Online Coverage” of Costa Brava award at PremisG! – the Costa Brava Girona Tourism Board organises an awards ceremony each year for the best media coverage of the region as well as prizes to selected local businesses and organisations to reward them for their contributions to tourism. This year, I won the award for best coverage of Costa Brava in the digital media category. I was thrilled beyond words! The PremisG! awards ceremony was classy, the plaque I received was beautiful and the cash prize was great, but for me, the best part of the evening was getting to share the stage with the Roca brothers who manage El Celler de Can Roca, one of the top restaurants in the world.

2012 was an amazing year, a breakthrough year for me in many aspects. Looking back, I’m filled with gratitude for everything that has landed on my path this year, and the love and support from my family and friends. Thank you!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a

HAPPY, HEALTHY & PROSPEROUS 2013!

All the best and hope to see you back here on Velvet Escape soon!

]]>https://velvetescape.com/highlights-of-2012/feed/8My TEDxTalk – Passion. Empowerment. Social Mediahttps://velvetescape.com/keith-jenkins-tedx-talk/
https://velvetescape.com/keith-jenkins-tedx-talk/#commentsTue, 18 Dec 2012 12:52:08 +0000https://velvetescape.com/?p=12743It was undoubtedly one of the highlights of 2012 for me: my TEDxTalk for TEDxSaxion. I felt very honored to be invited and I chose to tell a simple personal story about passion, empowerment and social media. Standing there on that red spot was an incredibly exciting and nerve-wracking experience that I’ll never forget. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed telling it! Oh, and if you’re wondering why I fretted the zip-lining experience… it’s because I’m afraid of heights! Just a lil’ detail I forgot to mention during the talk – must’ve been nerves! Haha!

Woohoo! I’m home! After six months of almost non-stop travel across four continents, it’s time to stop for a bit, enjoy my time at home and reflect on my travels in the first half of the year. It’s certainly been an amazing six months with innumerable fun (and dorky) moments, many lessons learned and several dreams come true. As I look back – I’m using my digital agenda to help me remember – I’m wondering out loud, “Gosh, did I really do all that?!”. From the tropical heat of Malaysia to the frozen wilderness of Lapland; zipping across Canada from Yukon to Nova Scotia; and being soaked by the Iguassu Falls in Brazil a week later… it’s pretty surreal once I start thinking about the tens of thousands of miles I’ve covered in the past six months so I decided to do a recap to jig my memory (it’s still a bit hazy) and convince myself that it was all very real. I hope you’ll stick around and re-live these memories with me. It’s a lot more fun that way! Here we go!

The start of 2012

My initials on the pillow case

2012 started with a quiet New Year’s Day brunch at home in Amsterdam. Not long after, I was on my first trip of 2012… to Malaysia. It was a wonderful trip as I got to spend lots of time with my family and hang out with my favourite Malaysian blogger friends. We even organised a tweet-up at the Trader’s Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, which has arguably the best view of the Petronas Twin Towers. The highlight though was a side-trip to Phuket, Thailand, for a few days on the beach with my two childhood friends, Allan and Eugene. Needless to say, we had a terrific time! Before I left Malaysia, I got to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur… in a massive suite… with butler service. The pillow cases had my initials embroidered on them! The start of 2012 couldn’t have been better!

Adventures in Lapland

Several weeks later, I found myself floating in a frozen lake 150km north of the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland! That was an incredible experience which I would recommend to everyone. One of my dreams came true on this trip: to see the Aurora Borealis or northern lights. They danced in the sky almost every night I was there. ‘Bewildering’ is probably the best description of that experience! Finnish Lapland simply blew my mind away with its range of unique experiences; aside from ice-floating, I stayed in a design igloo at the Snow Village, rode a husky-sled, went snow-shoeing and sat in a sauna gondola! I wish there was a photo of me trying to climb out of five feet of snow while snow-shoeing – I bet it was a hilarious sight!

Floating in an icy pool in a frozen lake!

“Never say never!”

Not long after that trip to Finland, I stood on a stage at ITB Berlin (the world’s largest travel trade fair) and spoke about travel blogging to almost 500 people. I quivered and the adrenalin pumped through my veins but surprisingly no one noticed. It was a huge kick and a reminder to myself to “never say never” – up till recently, I would’ve called anyone mad if they told me I’d be standing on such a big stage one day and delivering a keynote!

The “Velvet Meltdown”

My next trip after Berlin was to Abruzzo, a lesser-known region in Italy, with my partner. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but the stunning mountain scenery, the picturesque medieval towns and the wonderful food and wines soon convinced me that I have to return one day. It’s truly remarkable that this breathtaking region, only 1.5 hours’ drive away from Rome, still remains largely off-the-beaten-path!

The mighty Gran Sasso peaks in Abruzzo

After a week of driving around Abruzzo, I made my way to the Travel Bloggers Unite conference, which was held in Assisi, Umbria. The conference was terrific as it was great to catch up with what everyone’s doing and learn about new initiatives. The conference was also the scene of my now (in)famous “Velvet Meltdown”: walking back from a party to the hotel at 2am, I got lost in the dark and it started to rain very heavily. Soaked, cold and lost in the dark in a muddy field, I didn’t know what else to do but shout for help, scream and yell at myself for being so stupid. I eventually found my way back, spending almost two hours in the pouring rain. It wasn’t a pretty sight!

Ahhhh…. Valencia!

Las Arenas beach, Valencia

A week later, I was on a flight with my partner to Valencia! I’d been to Valencia before to see the Formula One races but this trip was the perfect opportunity to explore the city at my own pace. We had a brilliant time strolling around the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences and getting lost in the labyrinth of streets in Valencia’s Old Town, filling our tummies with lots of tapas and paella and washing it down with sangria, and just chilling on the sandy beaches. Seriously, if you’re looking for a city with lots of culture and history, and a few beaches to boot… head for Valencia!

Back to Spain

Another week passed and I was back in Spain again, this time in Costa Brava, the region north of Barcelona. Costa Brava is one of my favourite destinations in the world, with its historic towns, stunning coastline and some of the best cuisine in the world. I’ve had some of my best meals ever in Costa Brava such as at Celler de Can Roca. This time, we experienced a simply magical evening, dining at Quim Hereu’s studio. The Costa Brava Tourism Board was also very kind to indulge me when I suggested changing the itinerary so I could show the other bloggers one of my favourite spots, Sa Tuna, along the coast. It was a gorgeous drive, the views of the sea were stunning and cocktails at the Vintage Lounge were fabulous!

The travel blogger and Costa Brava Tourism Board crew in Costa Brava

Jet-lag in Canada

A glorious day in Vancouver

Several days after Costa Brava, I flew across the North Atlantic to Vancouver. It’s always a joy to visit one of my favourite cities in the world – and spend time with my best friend who lives there. The downside is: I always get the worst jet-lag when I fly to the West Coast! My best friend had what he thought was the perfect remedy: keep me up on my feet for as long as possible, walking, meeting friends, more walking…. and lots of food and vino along the way. I can’t say the remedy worked but we had an awesome time! Barely two days after arriving in Vancouver, I was boarding a flight to Whitehorse, Yukon, to attend the GoMedia conference organised by the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC). I felt pretty out of sync with myself and when the lady at the gate asked me for my ID, I showed her my iPhone. She looked at me with a puzzled expression – maybe he had a new form of ID? She asked me again for my ID and I looked at what was in my hand… yup, my iPhone, and we burst out laughing. “It’s jet-lag…”, I mumbled apologetically. I could see a blog post emerging in my mind titled “Signs You’ve Been Travelling Too Much”.

the midnight sun and jet-lag do not go well together!

Mountains and a curly river in Yukon

Flying into Whitehorse was a treat. I looked out the window and there was nothing but mile after mile of forests and curly rivers, interspersed with turquoise and aquamarine lakes, and in the distance, I could see imposing snow-capped mountains and glaciers. We were close to touchdown and I hadn’t yet spotted a single soul! I turned to Nim, from the CTC, and asked, “Where are we landing? There’s no one out there!” and we had a good laugh.

The conference was a great success – it was a huge honour for me to be on a panel and speak about travel blogging to the Canadian tourism industry – and I was thrilled to be in Yukon. It has such a terribly exotic ring to it, don’t you think? I also got to experience the midnight sun for the first time. I was very surprised by the strong impact the midnight sun had on me. Even at midnight, there was still a bright glow in the horizon and by 3am, the sun was up… and me along with it. One conclusion I drew: the midnight sun and jet-lag do not go well together!

Mountain biking along the Yukon river near Whitehorse

it pays to be a luxury travel blogger!

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see much of Yukon, aside from Whitehorse, as I was on yet another plane a few days later from Whitehorse to Halifax, Nova Scotia, via Vancouver and Toronto – a trip that literally took me from Canada’s northwestern corner bordering Alaska to it’s far southeastern Atlantic flank. I had a feeling that the trip wouldn’t go smoothly and it didn’t. The flight from Whitehorse arrived too late in Vancouver and I missed my connection. The consequence was a re-route via Calgary to Halifax and an eight-hour layover in Vancouver! It turned out to be the best delay I’ve ever had! Westjet kindly gave us a day-room at the five-star Fairmont Airport Hotel, the hotel gave us an upgrade to a luxurious suite and they took great care of me by hosting me at their restaurant and bar. Ahhhh…. it pays to be a luxury travel blogger!

Spoiled silly at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Airport

I arrived in Halifax the next morning after a ‘red-eye’ overnight flight from Calgary – now I know why those overnighters are called ‘red-eyes’! Nova Scotia simply blew me away with its rolling hills, rugged coastline and charming towns. One of the reasons I chose to visit Nova Scotia was the seafood and that’s what I got! The lobsters and scallops were simply the best I’ve ever had… and I even learned how to eat a fresh lobster correctly!

YUM!

Fun in Brazil

A week after flying home from Nova Scotia, I was in the air again, this time to Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, to attend EIBTUR, the first Brazilian travel bloggers conference. It was a gruelling 27-hour journey from Amsterdam via Frankfurt and Sao Paulo to Foz do Iguaçu. First, I bumped my head very hard against the overhead storage compartment (it was a small plane!) on the flight to Frankfurt, then the plane got struck by lightning (a scary yet awesome experience) and the eight-hour layover in Sao Paulo airport was excruciating. Luckily, I had Melvin from Traveldudes with me and we somehow made the best of it. We arrived in Foz exhausted, jet-lagged but very excited. I was really happy and honoured to attend and speak at the EIBTUR conference, which was in many aspects, historic. The enthusiasm of the Brazilian travel bloggers and the generous hospitality of our hosts Hotel Bella Italia and Loumar Turismo made me think of the samba: inviting, fun, uplifting and infectious! It was a joy to be back in Brasil and to visit the Iguassu Falls again. We certainly had a whale of a time in Foz!

My ‘Jump Shot’ at the Iguassu Falls!

A long weekend in Vienna

Enjoying my garden!

My trip to Brazil was quickly followed by a long weekend in Vienna, one of the grandest cities in Europe. A trip organised by the Vienna Tourism Board, we were wined and dined, and shown some of Vienna’s hot spots. Despite the heatwave, we had a great time in Vienna. When I arrived back in Amsterdam, I thought about my six-month ‘marathon’ and I felt excited about the fact that I would now have several weeks at home.

THANK YOU!

The past six months have been amazing but it’s great to be home, enjoying my garden and the company of my loved ones. I would like to thank them for putting up with my frequent absence, for their patience, understanding and love. I’m living the life I’ve always wanted but without their love and support, it would never be complete.

What’s up next?

The next half of the year promises to be slightly less hectic. In late-July/early-August, Cape Town beckons for a blog trip and the Getaway South African travel bloggers conference (there will be side trips to Mozambique and Zambia), then Porto (Portugal) and Girona (Costa Brava) for respectively, the TBU and TBEX conferences. Somewhere in between, I’ll be celebrating my 40th birthday… yep, yep, the BIG 4-0! After that, Malaysia and China are possibilities. Anyhow, I look forward to the second half of the year and sharing more of my adventures with you.

Cheerio!

]]>https://velvetescape.com/six-months-of-travel-around-the-world/feed/21Travel safe – a lesson learnedhttps://velvetescape.com/travel-safety-lesson/
https://velvetescape.com/travel-safety-lesson/#commentsThu, 05 Apr 2012 17:53:09 +0000https://velvetescape.com/?p=10835One of travel ‘s greatest virtues is its power to teach and open our eyes, sometimes, to the most obvious things. It also has the power to serve us reminders of long-forgotten lessons and make us appreciate those who are dear to us. This is one such incident.

An eye-opening incident

I was out on a snorkelling trip when a strong current swept me away. Two things saved me: a lesson I learned many years ago that if I were to be in this situation, I had to swim parallel to the shore before heading for the boat or the shoreline; and sheer willpower. I began to tire before I reached the boat. My body felt like a slab of lead and my mind was racing. I struggled to stay afloat as I felt waves of panic washing over me. As I sank for the third time, it suddenly occurred to me that I should start yelling for help. I fought my way back to the surface and shouted, “Help me please!”. Many thoughts flitted through my mind and it occurred to me that even in my dire state, I still remained polite – a bizarre thing to think of at that moment!

Fortunately, I was close enough to the boat for the crew to hear my cries and throw out a life buoy. I used my last reserves to reach out and grab the buoy. The waves played with me like a little doll, smashing me against the boat as the crew struggled to get me to the ladder. I somehow managed to catch the ladder and I knew I was safe.

I kicked myself for not listening to my instincts.

Before I went into the sea, I noticed the wind picking up and the swells growing. My instincts told me not to go in but I figured: I’m an experienced snorkeller, I’m a decent swimmer, I initiated this trip, I was there, I wanted to see the reefs and if I felt unsafe, I could always make my way back to the boat. I was swept away within minutes. The crew tried to haul me back into the boat but I couldn’t move. I hung onto the ladder in a state of shock. My throat choked on the salty water and my mind was reeling. I tried desperately to relax my breathing and calm my nerves. After what seemed like ages, I allowed the crew to pull me up. My first real thoughts were of my utter stupidity – I kicked myself for not listening to my instincts. I then started to think of my loved ones at home and how I wished they were there.

I was elated to return home to big hugs, kisses and smiling faces – it was all I needed to know that I was back with the people I love and I thanked them for simply being in my life.

There’s a lesson in every experience

I strongly believe that there’s a lesson in every experience, whilst the more dramatic ones have the power to truly open our eyes. My Dad’s passing several years ago taught me a great lesson about setting aside our differences to allow love to fluorish.

This near-drowning incident reminded me of how fragile life is and taught me to appreciate my loved ones and tell them as often as I can why they mean so much to me. It also taught me to listen carefully to my instincts. My mind may have a will of its own but when it comes to personal safety, it’s my instincts that I should trust.

It’s a scene that always comes to my mind when I think of Valentine’s Day: the opening minutes of the movie ‘Love Actually‘ that were shot at the Arrivals Hall of Heathrow Airport. The scene of people, faces filled with joy, greeting each other with a warm embrace never fails to move me. It’s one of my favourite opening scenes because it always reminds me of my loved ones and the joy of being back in their company after a period of travel.

The scene also reminds me of the importance of showing our loved ones how much they mean to us and why. A hug, kiss, candy or flowers go some way in showing our appreciation but nothing means more than our own words.

Image courtesy of McD22

This Valentine’s Day, grab a pen and a piece of paper and jot down the reasons you love that special someone.

I love you because…

There are many cards you can buy at a store that can appropriately express your feelings but it will mean so much more if those words came from you, in your handwriting. Then share a glass of wine with your loved one, light a candle and read your note out loud. Here’s a toast to love!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

]]>https://velvetescape.com/thing-to-do-on-valentines-day/feed/2Velvet Escape challenge 2012https://velvetescape.com/velvet-escape-challenge-2012/
https://velvetescape.com/velvet-escape-challenge-2012/#commentsWed, 04 Jan 2012 17:03:23 +0000https://velvetescape.com/?p=105682012 promises to be an eventful year. In sporting terms, London will host the Summer Olympics for the third time (I’m hoping that Roger Federer will win the gold medal at his beloved Wimbledon) whilst the European Football (Soccer) Championships will be held in Poland and Ukraine (I’m betting on the Netherlands of course!). As the year progresses, we will find out whether the Euro will survive the current crisis, if a potential showdown in the Gulf can be averted, who will be the next President of the U.S.A. and if the world will end as the Mayas have predicted. There will be much to think about as well as new challenges and opportunities to consider in addition to carrying on with our daily lives. As the world spins around us, it’s important to step out of the whirlwind of information and activities from time to time for some precious ‘me time’.

Me time at the Dead Sea

Spending time on me

Immerse yourself in the view!

I strongly believe that in order to be the best person we can possibly be for our families, friends and communities, we need to take care of ourselves first. This entails feeling good about ourselves both mentally and physically. Allotting time to the care of our personal well-being is the key to achieving a healthy balance in our often busy lives. We can use this time to do whatever we want or nothing at all. It sounds wonderful yet, funnily enough, I know many people who simply fret the idea of spending a day or more with nothing on the agenda and certainly without a mobile device. “Why throw yourself into a void when time is so precious?” is a remark I once heard.

So, if you feel you’ve been neglecting yourself lately, here’s the challenge for 2012: allocate sufficient me time, unplug and be creative in how you use that time to enjoy yourself. Indulge yourself in a spa or a day of nothingness on a beach, strike up a conversation with someone you see often but have never chatted with, have a meal at your favourite restaurant and savour each mouthful just a tad longer, meditate on a mountain peak or embark on a solo trip. Tickle your senses. Be adventurous. It’s up to you.

And when you return, I’d love to know what you did, what it felt like and if you learned something new about yourself during your me time – that goes for the professional ‘me-timers’ out there too – so I can learn from you. Feel free to leave a comment below or email me.

This time three years ago, I was roaming around South America, having the time of my life on my first solo round-the-world trip. After ten years of focusing on my career, this trip certainly opened my eyes to the world outside my comfy ‘bubble’. I learned to value the relationships I have with my family and friends, be grateful for the small every day delights we often overlook and most importantly, I learned to connect with and appreciate the person that I am.

My Travel Journal

I was perusing my Travel Journal this morning and read several entries from my RTW trip. Looking back, there were a handful of defining moments during that trip. One moment which I will never forget is the epiphany I experienced on the sands of Whitehaven Beach in Australia. Another defining moment happened several weeks later while on a camping trip to the McLeod River. I briefly described this moment in my Travel Journal entry (below). What strikes me when I read that account is the frame of mind I was in: open, eager, positive and excited about the new insights I was picking up along the way. There’s a childish glee in my ‘voice’, like there was a candy store at every bend of the road. Since that trip, I’ve made it my objective to maintain that same frame of mind. With the challenges that life constantly throws at us, it’s sometimes difficult to do so. At times like these, I look to the people or things that inspire me… and I pick up my Travel Journal. Reading through the stories and having a chuckle or two, I realise that my Travel Journal isn’t only a collection of my travel experiences, it’s my personal source of inspiration.

More firsts in “No Network Coverage” country

A page from my Travel Journal

The grass trees

On Monday morning, me and Bas, another guest at the B&B I was staying at, hopped into a giant 4-wheel-drive with Bob, our guide/driver/chef, for a camping adventure in the mountains northwest of Cairns – I previously thought that we would head west over the Great Dividing Range to the Outback but instead we headed first north along the coast past Port Douglas then westwards and up into the mountains. About 120 kilometers from Cairns, I had a quick glance at my mobile phone and it read “No Network Coverage”. Wow! I can’t remember the last time I was ever in a place with absolutely no mobile network coverage! Six months ago, I might have panicked a bit being disconnected from the ‘civilised’ world like this but I’m a changed person now (well, kind of) and I didn’t even blink an eye.

The McLeod River headlands

The scenery along the way was beautiful: first past the stunning coast, then along huge sugar cane plantations and hilly cattle country with the occasional farmhouse. As we cleared the mountains, the vegetation changed from tropical rainforest to a drier, shrubby forest type with many gum trees. After about two hours of driving, we turned off the main road and headed along a dirt road into real bush country. I was glad we were in a sturdy 4WD – it handled the steep road into the mountains and through various streams and dry, rocky riverbeds effortlessly. I loved the vegetation, mostly gum and grass trees and bottlebrush.

We camped on the banks of the McLeod River

After about 45 minutes, we arrived at our camping site, a serene spot at the banks of the McLeod River – I was told that this is actually the McLeod River headlands and that the river is several hundred kilometers long and winds its way to the Gulf of Carpentaria. That spot was just magical: towering gum trees provided a cool shade while the river, with its pebble-strewn bed, was crystal clear. We took several gulps of water from the river and it tasted very sweet and fresh. I can’t remember the last time I was able to just cup my hands and take a mouthful of water straight from the river without being terribly ill later. Glorious stuff!

Easy-peasy!

I set up my tent in a jiffy (my first try – it’s a lot easier than I thought it would be: knock the pins into the ground, connect some poles, roll out the canvas and clip it onto the frame – easy peasy!), then helped Bob and Bas collect some firewood. That was easy too. A few months before, the park caretaker orchestrated a controlled bush fire in this area so there was a lot of ready-made firewood just lying around! After lunch, Bob took us out for a bushwalk along the river. Just one kilometer further was an absolutely magnificent spot: at this point, massive boulders that continue as far as the eye can see force the river to branch out into countless streams, creating hundreds of gushing rock pools, cascades and waterfalls. We went boulder-hopping and I found many crystal-clear pools: one I called the jacuzzi, another the bath-tub, and yet another the shoulder-massage spa.

The McLeod River

Bottlebrush

Reflections in the McLeod River

We returned to the camp just before sunset and I helped light the campfire (my first time) – Bob and Bas laughed at me initially as I had some ‘ignition’ problems (the leaves just refused to burn) but as soon as I’d gotten over that hurdle (ok, I used up half a matchbox), we soon had a roaring fire going; more than sufficient to prepare that leg of lamb we brought with us! Bob cooked us a marvelous dinner; the lamb was exquisite and the Merlot that went with it was pretty stunning too! We had a long and lazy dinner, with some very interesting conversation topics, and looked up occasionally to admire the starry sky. I just loved it.

I soon had the fire roaring!

The camp fire looked beautiful at night

What a kookaburra sounds like

A fish-eye view of the camp site

The next morning, we woke up to the sounds of singing birds – did you know that a kookaburra (yes, the one that sits in the old gum tree) makes a sound similar to an excited chimpanzee (I don’t know how many of you have seen an excited chimp but I hope you get the picture! When I was in Airlie Beach, I heard them and I commented to the owner of that backpacker place that there must be a lot of monkeys living in the trees behind the hostel. He first looked at me quizzically, then started laughing and said that those were in fact kookaburras, i.e. birds, not monkeys!…. Like I’m supposed to know that?!). Anyway, back to when I woke up. I had another ‘first’ and this one wasn’t that much fun. I must say, I loved everything about this camping trip except for the ‘nature’s call’ aspect of it; you know, that call you have to heed, preferably behind some bush. Not a very pleasant thing, especially if you’re wary of snakes or spiders who usually hang out around bushes and dead leaves. Anyway, I got that safely out of the way and trudged back to the camp and there was breakfast: bacon, eggs and sausages. Delish! We wolfed it down in no time.

I felt so connected with the place and with myself

The cascades in the McLeod River

After breakfast, I made my way down to the waterfalls for another long and lazy dip in the pools. I looked around and took in the majesty of this place: the slender gum trees all around; the colours of the trees, the leaves and flowers, the water and the sky; the sounds of the birds and gurgling water; and the beautiful shapes of the boulders.

Lying there in one of the rock pools with absolutely no one around, I felt so connected with the place and with myself, and so free. An awesome, very spiritual experience I will not easily forget. I’m only into the second month of this trip and I already feel like I’ve come a long way, like I’m a changed person. It isn’t a new me, I don’t think, but perhaps a more enlightened version of the ‘old’ Keith. Whatever it is, I’m loving this new feeling!

What is luxury travel? I’ve always associated luxury travel with five-star hotels, flying First Class, sailing on private yachts (with a crew to take care of everything of course) and dining at Michelin-star restaurants – these were my Velvet Escapes. Since launching the Velvet Escape travel blog, I’ve come to realise that luxury travel is much more than travelling like a millionaire. With the help of guest writers who wrote about their favourite Velvet Escapes, I discovered that it’s the experiences, or moments, that make travel luxurious.

To celebrate the launch of the new Velvet Escape blog design, I asked some of my friends the following:

What defines a luxurious travel experience?

Here are their answers:

Janice

I know I am experiencing luxury when I shake my head in disbelief at where I am and I marvel at how happy I am. This certainly happens in luxurious locations, hotels and restaurants but it also happens in simple settings like sitting in a cafeteria on a ferry (not luxurious at all) in Patagonia. Like the name of your blog suggests, luxury can be plush, it can be a true escape and it can be both. Janice fromSolo Traveler ->

Melvin

-> A luxury experience for me is to have time to travel! To have the freedom to travel! To do things which you wouldn’t do every day! To travel is luxury! Melvin fromTraveldudes.

Evelyn

A luxurious travel experience is one that is just for me and it’s all ‘about me.’ It’s not work related – no travel reporting at all – and it allows me to pamper ‘my’ personal needs. Evelyn fromJourneywoman ->

Isabelle

-> A luxury travel experience to me is a unique experience that has got even the tiniest details covered. Something exclusive & where I feel spoiled and upon return refreshed & inspired. Isabelle fromIsabelle’s Travel.

JD

To me luxurious travel is seeing , experiencing and absorbing a new destination. Being able to capture the beauty and heart of the area and share it with others…oh yea and great FOOD! JD fromEarthXplorer ->

Dave & Deb

-> A luxury travel experience is about having the time to let go of all work. While we’ve had the opportunity to stay at some of the most luxurious places on earth, we still had an element of work that needed to be done. It is when staying in a beach hut, disconnected from the world with all the time and freedom to relax that makes a moment luxurious for us. It doesn’t need to be five-star, just secluded, quiet and having the time to be completely together. That’s pure luxury. Dave and Deb fromThe Planet D.

Zöe

To me it’s about leaving all everyday life, cares and work behind. Being pampered, feeling totally relaxed and having nowhere to go and nothing I have to do. Zöe fromQuirky Traveller ->

Simon

-> A luxurious travel experience for me has very little to do with comfort and amenities. Luxurious is related to great emotions and special places: camping in the Algerian desert and watching the sunrise with only a handful of people, or being alone on the top of a mountain and looking at the wild beauty of the glaciers… Simon fromWild About Travel.

Kirsten

My idea of luxury is having my needs met before I even realize I’m wanting for anything. Additionally, a pace that is not stressful but instead relaxing and restorative is, for me, crucial if I am to bestow the label of luxury. Kirsten fromAviators and a Camera ->

Jeff

-> Luxurious travel to me includes a visit to an enchanting village in Europe where my imagination can wander, my eyes can behold magnificent architecture, my mind can experience the art and culture, my comforts are met in quaint and authentic accommodations, and most of all, close encounters with the locals! Jeff fromEuro Travelogue.

Having a place all to myself and my loved one (beach, desert, mountains – it doesn’t matter where) and soaking in the beauty of nature without any interference from the outside world – no internet, no tv. Nellie fromWild Junket ->

Stephanie

-> I think taking the time to appreciate the simple things in life when we travel is a luxury. The things that make me smile like watching children play, taking in a sunset, capturing the nature around me, seeing new things and every day things in a new way – the sights, the sounds, the scents. The things I don’t take time to do at home. For me it is appreciating life’s little moments that gives me the luxurious travel experience and make me happy. But don’t get the wrong idea, I still cherish those “5 star rated” experiences and get all giddy like it is the first time each and every time! Stephanie fromTravel Designed.

And last but not least….

Rich

To me I define luxury as sitting in seat 1A with a glass of champagne before takeoff. Rich fromBrilliant Tips and Brilliant Travel Media(the brilliant mind behind the new Velvet Escape design). ->

Luxury travel and Velvet Escape

As for me, well, more importantly than travelling like I’d just won the national lottery, luxury travel is all about the moments and being inspired by them. Enjoying the cool droplets of mist on my face in the cloud forests of Monteverde. Sitting on a beach and feeling the silky water of the sea lapping around my toes. Feasting my eyes on the colours of the lagoon in Bora Bora. Lying on the deck of a boat in the Whitsundays and staring at the Milky Way above. Curling up in a five-star hotel bed. Catching a whiff of the rich scent of a Pinotage as I swirl it in a glass. Savouring the wondrous texture and flavours of Italian ice-cream. Or discovering a little bit more about myself.

“Pap, Vertel ‘s!” (“Dad, Tell Me”): The original Dutch version of the book by Elma van Vliet

It was a book that begged to be read. I stared at its cover for a few more moments before asking my partner, Rob, what it was about. He turned to look at it and his eyes lit up instantly. He carefully picked up the book from the coffee table, like it was a fragile object, and passed it to me. He explained that he’d given this book to his father as a present. Several months later, his father returned the book, except, now, the book was worth countless times more than the price Rob had paid for it at the book store. It was a journal, one that’s filled with questions that every child would like to ask their parents. Rob’s father spent many hours answering the questions and accompanying his answers with beautiful family photos. The result was an inspiring, entertaining, heartfelt story about what it was like growing up, the highlights and challenges, finding the love of his life, raising Rob and seeing him go through life’s trials and tribulations. It was the story of raising a child through the eyes of his father – a story every child needs to know.

Dad, what was it like raising me?

The journal contained a collection of questions, many of which I would’ve loved to ask my Dad, such as “Which characteristics did I inherit from you, and which from Mum?”, “What was it like raising me?”, “During which moments were you most proud of me?” and “What have you learned from me?”.

The journal contained funny anecdotes and lovely family photos

There were also chapters with questions about the father’s adolescent years. Rob’s father did a magnificent job in answering every question with funny anecdotes and vivid descriptions of many cherished moments.

Rob read from a few of his favourite pages and I was simply struck by awe. This was a precious window into his father’s life and his bond with his child. His father’s honesty was truly gripping.

The journal contained many life lessons – the ones we pass from generation to generation – on self-discovery, parenting, overcoming obstacles and fulfilling dreams, as well as insights into what it’s like to be a parent. Above all, it’s a testament of the true bond that exists between a father and his child.

I decided to do some research and discovered that the journal (originally in Dutch) is also available in English in various versions. Written by Elma van Vliet, there’s a journal for fathers and for mothers. It’s a great gift to our parents; I’m sure many will enjoy answering the questions and looking up old family photos and other things to include. And it’s a great gift from a parent to a child, one that will be filled with stories every child needs to know.

A big thank you goes to Rob’s father for creating this inspiring book and for allowing me to publish a photo of its content.

Mum, if you’re reading this… expect a package in the mail soon!

About the author of “The Mother’s Book”

Photo & bio: Vertel Eens by Elma van Vliet

Upon learning that her mother was seriously ill, Elma van Vliet sat down and wrote The Mother’s Book, a collection of questions that would allow her to find out who her mother really was. She wanted to learn what her mum had been like as a girl, what her dreams had been at 18, who she had fallen in love with first, how she had felt about the birth of her child… and many more. She published her first book, “Mam, Vertel’s” (“Mum, Tell Me”) in 2004 and dedicated it to her mother. Since then, various versions for fathers, grandparents and friends were published and translated into English, German and Russian. Visit her website “Vertel Eens” (in Dutch only).

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]]>https://velvetescape.com/the-story-every-child-needs-to-know/feed/17Things to be thankful forhttps://velvetescape.com/things-to-be-thankful-for/
https://velvetescape.com/things-to-be-thankful-for/#commentsThu, 30 Dec 2010 02:22:53 +0000https://velvetescape.com/blog/?p=6283I always find the year’s end to be the perfect moment to reflect on my own and with friends. I briefly dwell on my experiences and achievements, and lessons learned over the past year and I set goals for the coming year. I was talking to my friend, Rob, a few days ago about how our year went and he asked me what I was most thankful for. To be honest, I was surprised by that simple question and felt embarrassed about how little thought I give it. We talked about the importance of being thankful for everything we have, even the things we often take for granted each day. As I thought about it more, I realised that being grateful helps us to grow as positive individuals and ultimately leads the way to a ‘richer’, more fulfilling life. I found the following quote which brilliantly describes the importance of being thankful:

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
– Melodie Beattie

The minute I gained that insight, I picked up a pen and jotted down everything I was grateful for that I could think of. So, here we go. I’ve narrowed down my list to ten things I’m thankful for:

My family and friends

The wisdom and power to simply be me

Time spent with my loved ones

Opportunities to travel

Good health

All that nature has to offer

Artistic creations that inspire

Running water each time I turn on the tap and food in the fridge

The brilliant minds who created WordPress and twitter

And last but not least: LOVE: to love and be loved – there’s nothing quite like it isn’t it?

]]>https://velvetescape.com/things-to-be-thankful-for/feed/7Lessons I’ve learned from travelhttps://velvetescape.com/lessons-ive-learned-from-travel/
https://velvetescape.com/lessons-ive-learned-from-travel/#commentsThu, 18 Nov 2010 14:48:25 +0000https://velvetescape.com/blog/?p=5943Several weeks ago, I invited a group of travel bloggers and world travellers to describe the most important thing that travel has taught them. The result was a post, published last week, composed of little pearls of wisdom that will hopefully inspire people to travel and experience this grand world we live in. The success of this post spurred me to publish a Part 2 with more insights from other travel bloggers. Read their stories. And be inspired!

Beverly Gallagher, Nomadic Narrative, @nomadictweets10
Travel has taught me empathy. By experiencing the many different ways people interpret what it means to be human, I’ve been able to reflect on and shape my own vision of life. I’ve learned that there are multiple ways of being in the world, and that we are all struggling to survive. In this struggle, I’ve noticed there are far more people eager to lend a helping hand than to cut one off. Kindness can prevail. These revelations have helped me become a more tolerant and compassionate person. Humanity is one; and we all share a delicate planet.

Jeff Jung, Career Break Secrets, @careerbrksecret45
One of the most important things I’ve learned traveling is to SLOW DOWN. Every time I rush to see a big list I have in my head, I rarely enjoy the travel experience. I’ve learned that seeing less is more: more depth of experience, more connections, and more conversations with the people around you. The best example in my travels was in Turkey. I had many cups of apple tea around the country. I still saw what I came to see but I left with a great connection to the country. And, when I think back about that trip, it’s those chats over tea and the people I remember most.

That there is more to see and do than can ever be seen or done in a lifetime

That humanity knows no limits when it comes to creating food, shelter, dance and drink, yet seems constrained by the snow globe when it comes to souvenirs

That a little courtesy and kindness goes a very long way

That carrying toilet paper is a good idea

That it’s not for everyone

That it’s definitely for me

Gwen McCauley, Algarve Experiences, @gwenmccauley41
Travel has taught me to not be blinded by the obvious, to explore and discover the rich life behind and beside famous sites, to turn around and see what delights are available in another direction.

Beauty and interesting people exist profusely in off-the-beaten-track and less known places. They are alive and vibrant, not relics frozen in time. Crowds, high prices and congestion are less likely this way and I am seldom disappointed. I experience beauty and delight that many others never notice, having learned to not be seduced by the obvious. Life feels much richer because I’ve learned this invaluable lesson.

Arwa Lokhandwala, Orange Splaash, @arwalokhandwala26
Travel has taught me to Learn, Unlearn and Relearn. In other words, do away with prejudices, be ready to think and feel with an open mind.

Nico Crisafulli, AirTreks, @AirTreks52
They had a group of huts built around a central cooking pit, a pot of food steaming over an open fire with a small group of folks enjoying what was probably a daily routine: one kitchen, five families, just before dinnertime. I couldn’t help but notice how content they looked. Kids playing and running around, adults laughing and patting the cow on its behind.

I think of that scene when I’m at home in my fancy kitchen with my coffeemaker and Frigidaire, I awe at the fact that I need such things. Those folks that day were enjoying the richness of their life right in the face of their scarcity, showing me just how absurd it is to need such things.

Peggy Coonley, Serendipity Traveler, @peggycoonley15
The most important lesson traveling has taught me is to follow serendipity while trusting God’s grace. I have learned to let go of expectations whilst welcoming the purity of the unexpected; confident that there are no coincidences in God’s incomprehensible plan.

On life’s journeys, my most cherished moments tend to be spontaneous and spiritual. Travel provides endless opportunities to acquire indelible impressions to hold in my heart. Traveling in the present moment, savouring smiles around the world, inhaling distinctive aromas, listening to the world’s music, experiencing native art, and tasting a kaleidoscope of cuisines affords experiencing the essence and goodwill of humankind everywhere.

What travel has taught me

Two years ago, I embarked on a five-month round-the-world trip. The lessons I learned during that trip had a profound impact on myself and my outlook on life. When I returned home, I knew my life wouldn’t be the same again. I wrote an ebook called “Travelations: The Trip That Opened My Eyes” as a reminder to myself of these lessons and, hopefully, as a source of inspiration to others.

I was talking to a friend who’d been on a six-month trip through Africa and I asked him about the most important thing he learned from that trip. Without any hesitation, he answered, “That trip taught me to follow my heart”. I could absolutely relate to his answer. Two years ago, I embarked on a five-month round-the-world trip. The lessons I learned during that trip had a profound impact on myself and my outlook on life. When I returned home, I knew my life wouldn’t be the same again. I wrote an ebook called “Travelations: The Trip That Opened My Eyes” and did a video interview on Solo Traveler as a reminder to myself of these lessons and, hopefully, as a source of inspiration to others.

Curious about what others have learned from their travels, I decided to ask my fellow bloggers about their experiences. Below are their stunning answers to the question:

What was the most important thing that travel has taught you?

Keith Savage, Traveling Savage, @travelingsavage48
Travel has taught me to see the details of life. In the familiar, my eyes brush over the surroundings as I pursue my daily tasks and goals with a kind of mental tunnel vision. Traveling removes me from the known and forces me to be more attentive: from the way blades of grass jitter in the wind to the calcium deposits crawling up ancient fountains to the ripple of cloud shadows over ceramic roof tiles. These details hold the wonder in life; travel gives me access to them. The result is a richer, more meaningful experience and long lasting memory.

Granted some of those experiences were unpleasant but there was not one moment that I thought the country or the culture was weird. Travel has given me the ability to accept and appreciate the differences that make up the world we live in. It’s taught me that skin colour, ethnic foods, living conditions and the way we speak are unique qualities of one race – human.

Jason and Aracely, Two Backpackers, @twobackpackers5
Flexibility has been our greatest behavior while traveling long term. Flexibility gives us the ability to spend extra time with new friends we suddenly met. We can venture out to a new city or a new hike that we just learned of from other backpackers in the hostel. Flexibility allows us to relax and wind down in a single place and put our travels on hold. Great experiences and friendships would have been missed had we not been flexible during our journeys.

Evelyn Hannon, Journeywoman, @journeywoman55
A man once told me this. It’s easy to be a chief in your own village where everybody has known you and your family forever. It’s far harder to walk to a village 20 miles away and prove you deserve to be a chief.

Travel taught me that on the road we can’t fall back on the social standing we’ve earned at home. In jeans and a jean jacket we all look alike, travelling from point A to point B. It’s only our inner strength and generosity of spirit that will, in the end, earn us the full respect of others.

That we never stop learning. There is so much joy to be had and awe to be present in our lives when we continue to learn and grow. A favorite saying of ours is “When you’re green you’re growing and when you’re ripe you’re rotten.” Traveling presents you with unlimited opportunities to learn. And to me that is what travel is – a process of discovery. I learned an incredible amount about life and myself through my experiences traveling, because I was open to learning them. I wrote a free ebook, sharing 20 lessons I learned traveling – lessons that have helped me to live an empowered life. Live Your Best Life!

Sze Foong
I used to travel with lists of must-dos and went at a feverish pace to cram in as much as possible. It made for constant stimulation and highs, but I often ended up feeling like it was more work than pleasure. So now I go to one or two things per day, and spend the rest of the day meandering about, return to restaurants I’ve enjoyed, nap. Which brings me to the other thing I’ve learned – never feel guilty about spending a whole day lolling about in bed in the hotel, especially if it’s a nice one. It’s a holiday, after all.

Ann Lombardi, The Trip Chicks, @thetripchicks57
Hands down, travel is the world’s best teacher. Blessed with (mis)adventures in 85+ countries, I’ve crashed into a snowdrift on a runaway Sami reindeer sled, been zapped with tear-gas in my curlers outside a Seoul hair salon, helped biologists collect howler monkey squat in Central America, woken up in a stranded rail car somewhere in rural Romania, discovered underground Moscow with a black market “entrepreneur”…Time after time travel shows me that with an open mind, a touch of serendipity, and big supply of laughter, we really can better understand this planet we share.

Janice Waugh, Solo Traveler, @solotraveler51
At the risk of sounding selfish, I’ll say that the most important thing I’ve learned from travel is that I am capable. It’s not that I don’t appreciate different cultures. I love expanding my mind, exploring, meeting people and discovering repeatedly how we can be both different and similar regardless of where we live. But the most important thing to come of my travels is to learn that I am capable of navigating the world and negotiating the new because this ability presents more opportunities for all the other great things that travel offers.

Amar Hussain, Gap Year Escape, @gapyearescape41
The most important thing travel has taught me is to take less photos. I know this may seem counter intuitive to some but it’s one of the best pieces of advice I can give. When you are travelling you will see it all the time; individuals with their Canons and Nikons snapping away furiously. When you show the photo to someone else they won’t always understand the significance as they weren’t there. Every now and again put the camera down. Just take it all in, be in the moment and don’t worry about taking the perfect picture.

What travel is about

Travel is more than just about going on a trip somewhere. Whether I’m travelling for business or pleasure, to me, travel is about using our senses to experience a different place and culture, meeting new people, and it’s about what these experiences teach us.

Go explore. Experience. And be inspired!

]]>https://velvetescape.com/the-most-important-thing-travel-has-taught-me/feed/14The last day of summerhttps://velvetescape.com/the-last-day-of-summer/
https://velvetescape.com/the-last-day-of-summer/#commentsMon, 11 Oct 2010 12:01:46 +0000https://velvetescape.com/blog/?p=5715Saturday, 9th October 2010. Technically, it wasn’t the last day of summer but it sure felt like it. The sun shone brightly and there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. At 24 degrees Celsius, it was perfect t-shirt weather… if it weren’t for the reddish-orangy leaves in the trees, you wouldn’t have guessed that it was the second week of October! People were out for a stroll, or in their boats, on their bikes or rollerblades or sitting at a terrace with a cold beer. Basking in the sun’s glorious rays, Amsterdam looked absolutely stunning!

A friend of mine decided to celebrate her birthday with a picnic in Amsterdam’s famous Vondel Park. Armed with our birthday gifts, sushi and prosecco, we parked ourselves on a grassy spot at the edge of a pond. We talked, laughed and simply enjoyed the gorgeous weather. Everyone looked so happy: couples curled up in each others’ arms, friends having a good laugh together, parents playing football with their kids, the odd tourist smoking a joint – there were smiles all around!

A group of friends even brought a couch with them! They sat there, huddled together on their worn-out PVC couch, and watched the world go by. There was plenty to see: the shortest skirts, the tightest t-shirts, chiseled physiques, the latest designer shades; from sexy to scruffy; fresh-faced babies in their strollers to elderly folk with their strollers… everyone was out for a saunter to enjoy perhaps the last warm day of the year.

There were happy faces everywhere I turned. People flirted with one another with a fleeting look or a smile. The pheromones swirling around in the air were almost tangible!

“Live every day like it’s your last”

Someone brought a ghetto-blaster on a wheel-barrow and started belting out dance tracks from the eighties and nineties. People got up and started dancing. “Come on… join us! It’s FREE!”, one of them yelled. Many people stopped to watch, clapped their hands and swayed to the music.

I put my arm around my friend’s shoulder and said, “Everyone’s having a great time together!”. My friend, the birthday girl, looked at me and said, “Live every day like it’s your last. See… that’s what everyone is doing today!”. Indeed, that’s what it really felt like!

A great thing about travelling is the many, often unexpected, sources of inspiration we encounter. One of the best sources of inspiration lies in the people we meet. I’m certain that we all have travel stories to tell in which we met someone inspiring who may even have had an influence on us in some way or other. To celebrate the inspiring people we meet during our travels, I launched a weekly guest series called “A world of inspiration” last year that ran for twenty straight weeks.